NEW GLARUS — In an effort to avoid the oncoming snowstorm, New Glarus moved its basketball game against Wisconsin Heights up a day. The Knights, ready to play, opened their Capitol South Conference schedule with a 74-39 win over the Vanguards on Thursday, Jan. 11.
“I’m really happy with how our boys played tonight, and it was great to be able to get everyone some minutes,” New Glarus head coach Travis Sykso said. “The fact that it was a conference opener just makes it that much better.”
The Knights got off to a 7-0 start, speeding up the game for seven points. Cade Thayer scored in transition with an assist from Jake Roth. Max Marty dished it to Breckyn Thompson on a fast break, and Brett Warrell drained a 3-pointer with passes along the key.
“It was nice to hit some shots early,” Sysko said. “It definitely helps build some confidence. Everything gets a little easier when shots are going down.”
The Vanguards responded with an 8-0 run to take their only lead of the game, 8-7. Reed Adler completed a 3-point play at the line, Michael Fancsali sank a 3-pointer and Jon Vosburg made a pair of free throws.
For the rest of the half the New Glarus defense tightened up, allowing just three more made field goals.
New Glarus doubled up Wisconsin Heights, 16-8, with a 9-point run. Breckyn Thompson regained the lead with a basket beyond the arc. He then assisted Thayer for two. Marty went to the charity stripe after a baseline drive, making both attempts. Roth had his own chance at the line but missed both shots. He redeemed himself with the rebound, dishing it to Lawrence Vasquez for two.
Adler broke up the run with a pair of free throws, and Vosburg made the Vanguards’s first field goal in over five minutes.
That’s when Charlie Sarbacker hit the court running. The junior guard drained back-to-back 3-pointers and kept a possession alive with a tip out to Marty, who drove to the basket for two. After a 1-for-2 trip to the line for Adler, Sarbacker sank another three and scored on a fast break. Sarbacker’s final two points forced a Wisconsin Heights timeout, as the Vanguards trailed 29-13.
“Charlie Sarbacker gave a huge spark off the bench scoring those 16 points in the first half,” Sysko said. “I’m sure the basket looked really big to him because everything he put up was going in. I’m really happy to see him have the break out game tonight.”
In the final four and a half minutes of the opening frame, New Glarus tacked on 13 more points to Wisconsin Heights’ six to lead 42-19. Of the Vanguards’ 19 first-half points, eight of them came from the from the free-throw line. Wisconsin Heights had just five made field goals.
New Glarus’s lead ballooned to 30 points seven minutes into the second frame. Marty drove into the lane and kicked it out to Nolan Julseth for three. Julseth was one of four players to come off the bench in the second half — with a well-established Knight lead — and score.
“Nolan is another one who has made some steady progress this season,” Sysko said. “It’s a big jump to go from 8th grade basketball to playing varsity. You can tell he’s getting more comfortable out there.”
Clayton Streiff grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled on the putback. He went 1-for-2 at the line. Julseth completed a 3-point play at the charity stripe after grabbing a steal for a 61-25 lead. Leyton Mihlbauer drained a 3-pointer and took a steal the other way for two, and Andrew Sarbacker ended the game with his own basket beyond the arc.
Charlie Sarbacker led the offense with a career-high 19 points, 15 of which came from beyond the arc. Thompson also finished in double figures with 13 points, including three 3s. As a team, the Knights made 13 3-pointers.
