NEW GLARUS - Senior Ryan Bright can do a lot of things on just about any playing field. One thing that he couldn't do Tuesday was carry the Knights on his back against a team like Wisconsin Heights.
"I thought we played real hard tonight," New Glarus head coach Travis Sysko said. "Defense got us back into it there in towards the end. But it was some mental mistakes down the stretch - turning the ball over, not finding guys when they're open. You can't do that against good basketball teams."
Bright scored 27 points, but New Glarus lost to the Vanguards, 60-52, Tuesday.
"Ryan had a heck of a game for us. This was the first night where I thought he really tried to take over. I thought we should have gotten him the ball a little more down the stretch," Sysko said.
Wisconsin Heights (7-1, 3-0 Capitol South) boasts arguably the best guard in the conference, Dustin Helmenstine, and can score points in a hurry.
"He is the best guard in the league. At times I thought we did a good job on him and other times he got loose on us," Sysko said. "He showed just how good he was tonight. You could get up in his face and he goes around you on the dribble."
Helmenstine led all scorers with 28 points, four of which were 3-pointers.
New Glarus found itself down 18-13 after the first quarter and 33-24 at halftime.
"We had a couple of opportunities - one in the second quarter when they got in foul trouble and again in the third quarter," Bright said. "Championship teams figure out ways to win."
Wisconsin Heights got out to its biggest lead of the game in the third, 39-26. The Knights got a few bounces to go their way and went on a 12-0 run that carried into the fourth quarter, bringing the score to within a point.
"We came to compete tonight, but I guess Heights outplayed us in the end. It hurts. The door is almost closed as far as conference goes, but we just have to keep our heads up," Bright said.
Helmenstine hit back-to-back 3s to give the Vanguards some cushion.
"We turned the ball over too much, and you can't do that against a team like Heights," Bright said.
New Glarus kept it close, and Bright hit a 3 with 55 seconds left to bring the score back to within four at 56-52.
"I felt like tonight in order for us to win someone needed to step up, and I had some open shots," Bright said. "I didn't have an option. We'd like to get three or four guys into double figures - that's when we play our best. But I didn't have a choice tonight."
New Glarus (7-3, 1-3) has a new look to much of its roster this season, as only Bright, Nick Stuessy and Cameron Jeglum saw significant court time a year ago. Both Stuessy and Jeglum finished with 10 points apiece, but Jeglum, nicknamed "Playmaker" by the Glarner Knight faithful, had a tough time finding his shot.
"I hurt for him. I've been in his position too," Bright said. "I've been friends with him for a long time and he just has to keep his head up and realize that we have more games to play."
The Knights travel to Marshall (2-8, 1-1) Friday.
"I thought we played real hard tonight," New Glarus head coach Travis Sysko said. "Defense got us back into it there in towards the end. But it was some mental mistakes down the stretch - turning the ball over, not finding guys when they're open. You can't do that against good basketball teams."
Bright scored 27 points, but New Glarus lost to the Vanguards, 60-52, Tuesday.
"Ryan had a heck of a game for us. This was the first night where I thought he really tried to take over. I thought we should have gotten him the ball a little more down the stretch," Sysko said.
Wisconsin Heights (7-1, 3-0 Capitol South) boasts arguably the best guard in the conference, Dustin Helmenstine, and can score points in a hurry.
"He is the best guard in the league. At times I thought we did a good job on him and other times he got loose on us," Sysko said. "He showed just how good he was tonight. You could get up in his face and he goes around you on the dribble."
Helmenstine led all scorers with 28 points, four of which were 3-pointers.
New Glarus found itself down 18-13 after the first quarter and 33-24 at halftime.
"We had a couple of opportunities - one in the second quarter when they got in foul trouble and again in the third quarter," Bright said. "Championship teams figure out ways to win."
Wisconsin Heights got out to its biggest lead of the game in the third, 39-26. The Knights got a few bounces to go their way and went on a 12-0 run that carried into the fourth quarter, bringing the score to within a point.
"We came to compete tonight, but I guess Heights outplayed us in the end. It hurts. The door is almost closed as far as conference goes, but we just have to keep our heads up," Bright said.
Helmenstine hit back-to-back 3s to give the Vanguards some cushion.
"We turned the ball over too much, and you can't do that against a team like Heights," Bright said.
New Glarus kept it close, and Bright hit a 3 with 55 seconds left to bring the score back to within four at 56-52.
"I felt like tonight in order for us to win someone needed to step up, and I had some open shots," Bright said. "I didn't have an option. We'd like to get three or four guys into double figures - that's when we play our best. But I didn't have a choice tonight."
New Glarus (7-3, 1-3) has a new look to much of its roster this season, as only Bright, Nick Stuessy and Cameron Jeglum saw significant court time a year ago. Both Stuessy and Jeglum finished with 10 points apiece, but Jeglum, nicknamed "Playmaker" by the Glarner Knight faithful, had a tough time finding his shot.
"I hurt for him. I've been in his position too," Bright said. "I've been friends with him for a long time and he just has to keep his head up and realize that we have more games to play."
The Knights travel to Marshall (2-8, 1-1) Friday.
