Luther Prep boys fall to Wisconsin Heights

By Kevin Wilson of the Daily Times staff
Saturday, January 10, 2009 12:01 AM CST

Luther Prep senior guard Casey Cantwell (left) handles the ball while Wisconsin Heights’ Logan Brunner defends during Friday’s game at LPS. Wisconsin Heights won 64-60. (KEVIN WILSON/Daily Times)

Luther Prep boys basketball coach Nate Kieselhorst didn't want to blame it on rust, but rust was certainly evident in his team's game Friday night.

The Phoenix took the court for the first time in nearly a month and built a 10-point lead on visiting Wisconsin Heights in the second half but let it slip away as the Vanguards pulled out a 64-60 victory in a matchup of Capitol North and South Division teams.

Luther Prep (2-2) led 34-24 early in the third quarter only to watch Wisconsin Heights (5-1) rally to take a 46-44 lead with 7 minutes, 18 seconds left in regulation.

The Phoenix sputtered through this critical stretch with traveling calls and other turnovers, and the Vanguards took advantage.

Kyle Ballweg hit a pair of 3-pointers late in the third quarter to draw Wisconsin Heights close and junior forward Bryce Barsness had 10 of his game-high 22 points in the second half to help put the Vanguards over the top.

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His basket off an alley-oop pass gave Heights the 46-44 lead, its first lead since the second quarter. His free throw with 6.9 seconds to go capped the scoring and sealed the victory.

The Phoenix established senior forward Scott Henrich (21 points) and junior forward Dante Kuehl (13 points) in the second half, but once the contest turned into a back-and-forth affair, Heights had the advantage.

“Give them credit,” Luther Prep boys basketball coach Nate Kieselhorst said. “Their main horse (6-foot-6 center Rory Cotter) wasn't even out there (due to mono).

“We didn't have the endurance and it really showed. We took time-outs, we tried subbing but we didn't have continuity. It was hit or miss. We had silly things happen like traveling calls or balls off fingertips. Those are things I know we can correct. But it's still frustrating. This was a game we should have had.”

Senior guard Casey Cantwell gave the Phoenix a lift in the first half with three 3-pointers. Junior guards Josh Schroeder and Jon Schroeder each had steals that led to transition baskets to help Luther Prep try to stem the tide in the second half.

“Josh had a nice floor game,” Kieselhorst said. “Unfortunately, he got in foul trouble in the second half and wasn't as aggressive as he usually is in the fourth quarter. Early on, Casey was hot. In the second half, we worked it in to our bigs down low. But we were not as strong on the glass as we usually are.”

Luther Prep hosts Lodi in a Capitol North game on Tuesday.