JUDA — The Skyler Stuckey era of girls basketball at Juda began with a loss to the Wisconsin Heights Vanguards 43-35 on Thursday Nov. 20. Stuckey took over for Justy Roth and inherits a team that did not lose any seniors to graduation. 

The Panthers got off to a 6-0 lead as Anna Bartels made one of two free throws and Rianna Sullivan made a basket. That was followed by a 3-pointer by Ryleigh Brown forcing Wisconsin Heights to call a time out with 14:04 left in the first half. The Vanguards charged back and took a 13-11 lead on a basket by Gracie Johnson. A field goal by Sophie Bolton tied the game at 15-15, and Makenna Scheidegger tied it at 17-17, but Wisconsin Heights got the final points of the first half to take a 19-17 halftime lead.

Avery Graham of the Vanguards hit a couple of 3’s early in the second half to give Wisconsin Heights a 27-17 lead. The Panthers fought back as Bartels got a basket and Sullivan made two free throws to get Juda within six points at 29-23. The Vanguards got their biggest lead at 34-23 with 9:20 left on a free throw by Haley Wipperfurth. The Panthers kept battling and closed the deficit to four at 36-32 on a pair of free throws by Brown and another two free throws by Homan with 4:52 left. But Bartels fouled out with 2:46 left and the Vanguards closed the game with a 7-3 advantage to win 43-35.

Following his first game, Stuckey came away encouraged by his team’s effort and hustle. “Well, I tell you what, you can’t coach effort and tonight these girls really left it all out on the court. But, at the end of the day, offensively is where we came up short. We’ve worked hard since day one. They get on the floor every chance that they get because they realize every possession matters,” said Stuckey.  

Juda (0-1) will be off until Monday Dec. 1 when they will have an away game with The Lincoln Academy at Beloit.