Terrific trio

Sauk Prairie’s boys basketball team had three players earn all-Badger Small Conference honors. Senior guard Nicholas Keyser was named second-team all-conference. Junior guard Otis Andres and junior forward Jake Buckles were both named honorable-mention all-conference. Keyser led the Eagles in scoring at 12.0 points per game. Keyser reached double figures in 16 of 25 outings, led Sauk Prairie in rebounding (7.0) and was third in assists (3.0). “He had a very nice career for us,” Eagles coach Sean McGann said of Keyser. “He was a 3-year varsity starter and someone who really grew a lot this season.  “He was at the top of every team’s scouting report and that is not an easy task to still be impactful when everyone on the court knows where you are at all times. We will surely miss him next year.” Andres was second on the team in scoring (11.3), highlighted by a 25-point outing against La Crosse Central on Dec. 12. Andres also tied for the team-lead in assists (3.2 per game) and was third on the Eagles in rebounding (3.6). “I think he could have been a second-team kid if he did not deal with injuries this year, but he was rock solid for us all year,” McGann said of Andres. “He really developed into a great shooter and is now finding other ways to score and impact the game. I am expecting a big offseason from him.” Buckles was fourth on the team in scoring (7.2) and reached double figures in seven of his last nine games. Buckles was also fifth on the team in rebounding (3.0) and added 0.5 assists per game. “A true warrior,” McGann said of Buckles. “Jake has and will continue to maximize his abilities.  “I am very proud to coach Jake because of what he brings to our locker room and practice gym. He really developed into an outstanding shooter this year, but it comes as no surprise as he is in the gym every morning working on it.” Mount Horeb junior guard Josh Manchester was named the conference’s Player of the Year. He was joined on the first team by Stoughton’s Jacob Hibner and Carter Sullivan, Baraboo’s Alex Hannagan and McFarland’s Ben Forbes. Mount Horeb’s Todd Nesheim, who led the Vikings to a perfect 14-0 record in the league, was named the conference’s Coach of the Year. The league’s All-Defensive team consisted of Griffin Hannah of Mount Horeb, Alex Southworth of Reedsburg, Baraboo’s Hannagan, McFarland’s Forbes and Stoughton’s Hibner. Sauk Prairie went 12-13 overall and 5-9 in the Badger Small Conference.All-Badger Small Conference     Boys Basketball           First Team Name School Yr. Josh Manchester Mount Horeb 11 Jacob Hibner Stoughton 11 Carter Sullivan Stoughton 12 Alex Hannagan Baraboo 12 Ben Forbes McFarland 12   PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Josh Manchester, Mount Horeb COACH OF THE YEAR:  Todd Nesheim, Mount Horeb     Second Team Name School Yr. Tim West, Jr Edgewood 10 Garrett Crull McFarland 10 Griffin Hannah Mount Horeb 12 Danny Pickel Reedsburg 12 Nicholas Keyser Sauk Prairie 12         Honorable Mention Name School Yr. Carter Rivas Baraboo 10 Dan Olson Baraboo 12 AJ Gnewuch Edgewood 9 Gannon Bagstad Edgewood 11 Eli Krueger McFarland 10 Zach Maguire Mount Horeb 12 Alex Chapman Mount Horeb 10 Aidan Warfield Portage 12 Elias Vera Portage 12 Alek Southworth Reedsburg 12 Will Mikonowicz Reedsburg 11 Otis Andres Sauk Prairie 11 Jake Buckles Sauk Prairie 11 Mason Richter Stoughton 12           All-Defensive Team Name School Yr. Alex Hannagan Baraboo 12 Ben Forbes McFarland 12 Griffin Hannah Mount Horeb 12 Alek Southworth Reedsburg 12 Jacob Hibner Stoughton 11