Ready for the playoffs

The regular season brought some impressive highs for Wisconsin Heights’ boys basketball team. It also saw rough patches. With the postseason set to begin Friday, though, the Vanguards believe they’re more than capable of making a run.  Heights (6-7) is the No. 3 seed in its sectional and opens the playoffs at second-seeded Fennimore (14-5) in a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal at 7 p.m. The winner advances to a regional final Saturday at 7 p.m. If the seeds hold, that game would be at top-seeded River Ridge (21-0). “I think our chances our good, but Fennimore is a good team with a very, very good player whose size is a concern,” Heights coach Zack Colby said, referring to 6-foot-8 Adam Larson. “If we can contain him and keep him under his season averages, I think we have a really good shot at pulling it off. But we will see!   “The winner of that one most likely takes on undefeated River Ridge, so the road doesn’t get any easier. With a full week of practice, I think our boys will be ready.” Heights wrapped up the regular season by splitting its four games last week. Here’s a look at the Vanguards’ week: • Wisconsin Heights 78, Cambridge 75 — De’Shawn Barsness scored 20 points and Devin Brabender added 19 as the Vanguards notched an impressive road win at Cambridge on Feb. 13. Jacob Brabender added 11 points and Carson Hosking chipped in with nine. The Vanguards built a 41-37 halftime lead, then survived a second half charge by the Blue Jays. • New Glarus 50, Wisconsin Heights 47 — De’Shawn Barsness scored a game-high 20 points, but the Vanguards fell to the Glarner Knights on Feb. 11. Devin Brabender added 13 points for Heights. The visiting Vanguards led, 29-21, at halftime. But Heights scored just 18 second half points and New Glarus rallied back for the win. • Belleville 62, Wisconsin Heights 52 — The Wildcats downed the Vanguards on Feb. 9. • Wisconsin Heights 60, Marshall 47 — Heights notched an impressive win over the Cardinals on Feb. 8. “Our loss to New Glarus was only by three, and the loss to Belleville was more of a result of fatigue than anything,” Colby said. “The boys were playing their third game in four days at that point and we just didn’t have it that night. Not that that’s an excuse, but that’s a game we’d love to have back!   “Our most recent game (with Cambridge) showed our resilience and growth this season, as we were able to hold off and beat Cambridge on their home floor after losing to them by nine in our first game with them.”   Feb. 13 WISCONSIN HEIGHTS 78, CAMBRIDGE 75 Heights ………….. 41 37 — 78 Cambridge ………. 37 38 — 75 WISCONSIN HEIGHTS (fg ft-fta pts) — Buol 3 0-0 7; Parman 1 0-2 2; Barsness 8 4-6 20; Adler 1 3-4 5; Phillips 0 2-2 2; J. Brabender 4 0-0 11; Kennedy 1 0-2 3; D. Brabender 7 5-5 19; Hosking 3 3-5 9. Totals 28 17-26 78. CAMBRIDGE — Nikolay 8 5-5 24; Heth 4 2-2 12; Harrison 1 0-0 2; Horton 6 0-0 16; Ez. Stein 1 0-0 2; Buckman 3 0-0 7; Schroeder 4 0-0 8; Kozler 1 0-0 2; El. Stein 1 0-0 2. Totals 29 7-7 75. 3-point goals: WH 5 (Buol, J. Brabender 3, Kennedy); C 10 (Nikolay 3, Heth 2, Horton 4, Buckman). Total fouls: WH 10; C 25. Fouled out: Schroeder, Kozler.   Feb. 11 NEW GLARUS 50,  WISCONSIN HEIGHTS 47 Heights ….....….…. 26 21 — 47 New Glarus .……. 21 29 — 50 WISCONSIN HEIGHTS (fg ft-fta pts) — Barsness 8 3-6 20; Adler 1 0-0 3; J. Brabender 2 0-0 5; D. Brabender 5 3-3 13; Hosking 2 1-2 6 . Totals 18 7-11 47. NEW GLARUS — Streiff 1 2-4 4; Martinson 8 1-3 19; Parman 1 0-0 2; Schuett 3 2-4 10; Siegenthaler 1 0-0 3; Strok 1 0-0 2; Faber 2 0-0 4; Walter 3 0-2 6. Totals 20 5-13 50. 3-point goals: WH 4 (Barsness 1, Adler 1, J. Brabender 1, D. Brabender 1); Ng 5 (Martinson 2, Schuett 2, Siegenthaler 1). Total fouls: WH 13; NG 13.