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Wisconsin Heights made its second trip in less than a week to Mineral Point High School, and both Vanguard basketball squads (boys and girls) left with the same result--a regional loss at the hands of the Pointers.
Following the boys game last Saturday in which Mineral Point defeated Heights 60-51 in the regional final, the girls came to town for a regional semifinal game Friday night. For awhile it looked as if the Vanguard girls team would fare better than the boys, but that didn't last long.
The Pointer girls turned a 25-18 halftime deficit into a 53-44 win in the Division 4 game that propelled Mineral Point into the regional final Saturday night against Brookwood. The Pointers are looking for their first regional title since 2003.
The first quarter was back and forth the entire way until Heights' Jenna Endres tallied back to back three pointers, including one on a bank shot at the buzzer following a steal, that put the visitors up 12-10 at the end of one.
The Vanguards extended their lead with four free throws to start the second quarter and took a ten point lead on another three from Endres with 1:40 remaining. A basket from Sydney Staver right before the halftime horn helped get the Pointers back in the thick of things trailing 25-18 at the break, although it still felt like Heights controlled the momentum.
How the Pointers would respond in the third quarter was the question on everyone's mind during halftime, but Mineral Point answered the call in a huge way.
The home team opened with an 8-0 run to retake the lead at 26-25 on a basket from Jessica Schultz at the 6:22 mark. Another 6-0 stretch put them up 32-27, and then a three pointer from Clara Chambers and a hoop from Staver extended the lead to 37-30. The Vanguards cut the lead to 37-34, but Jena Pilling squelched the Vanguard momentum when she drilled a three pointer with 50 seconds to go that helped the Pointers stay in front 40-36 entering the fourth.
The Pointer defense clamped down in the fourth quarter, denying Heights a field goal until there were just 53 seconds remaining and the final result had already been determined. The Vanguards didn't help their cause as they had free throw woes, missing three attempts on the front end of one-and-one bonus shots.
Chambers led the Pointers with 19 (16 in the critical second half), followed by Schultz and Staver with 10 each.
Endres took game high scoring honors with 20 and her teammate Macenzie Kraemer joined her in double figures with 12.
"For the first half, we played like this was our first tournament game," said Mitch Wainwright, citing the fact the Pointers had a first round bye and were off Tuesday while Heights had played a game. "I watched our boys team against New Glarus last week after they had a bye and thought we might have some of the same struggles. We were tentative, nervous, and forgot some things, and missed several shots when we were just five feet from the basket."
"In the second half, we settled down, remembered we were playing at home, and came out with a whole new energy level. The goal was to have the lead by the end of the third quarter, but I was happy we got it even sooner than that with our aggressive style of play."
"Clara had another big game for us, especially in the second half, and Syd held her composure throughout and hit some big baskets. The three from Jena at the end of the third was a huge shot for us, and I know she's been waiting for that to happen for her," added the coach.
Heights ended its season with a 13-11 record while Point improved to 16-6.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
WH: 12-13-11-8--44
MP: 10-8-22-13--53
BOX SCORE
WISCONSIN HEIGHTS (fg-ft-tp) 44: Parrell 0-1/2-1, Zander 1-0/1-2, Wilkinson 1-0-2, Kraemer 5-2/5-12, Adler 2-3/4-7, Endres 5-0-20. Totals: 14-6/12-44. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: Zander. Three pointers: Endres 3.
MINERAL POINT 53: Staver 5-0/1-10, Chambers 4-9/10-19, Chubb 1-0-2, Wainwright 1-0-2, Pilling 1-1/2-4, Kruser 3-0-6, Schultz 5-0-10. Totals: 20-10/13-53. Fouls: 17. Three pointers: Chambers 2, Pilling 1.