Some good, some bad

Up one night. Down the next. That’s been the story for Sauk Prairie’s boys basketball team this season. If the Eagles can find a branch of consistency to hold onto, though, big things could await. Sauk Prairie is 2-2 overall after splitting a pair of games last week. The Eagles defeated Richland Center, 68-34, on Dec. 3, then fell to Lake Mills, 81-46, on Dec. 5. “It has been an up-and-down year so far,” Eagles coach Sean McGann said. “We have battled injuries, tough shooting nights, and teams that are hot. Right now we are really searching for what we can hang our hat on. There are going to be nights where we do not make shots, and so far that has been a theme of ours.” Two things have worried McGann more than anything. First is scoring, as the Eagles have averaged just 47.5 points per game in their two losses. Second is effort, which hasn’t always been at the level McGann desires. “We struggle to score when things are hard,” McGann said. “I was extremely disappointed with our effort against Lake Mills. I should never have to talk about effort to varsity-level players, but this is where we are at right now. Hopefully, that game can open our eyes a bit and help us see the areas we need to improve on.” On the flip side, there has been a lot McGann has been happy with — such as newcomers settling in and showing progress. “Guys are jumping into brand-new roles and doing some nice things,” McGann said. “I think we have a team that can improve in a lot of areas, and we have enough guys who have the dedication to do exactly that. We will keep growing and learn more about ourselves as we move forward.” Here’s a recap of the Eagles’ first four games: • Watertown 58, Sauk Prairie 49 — The Eagles led their season-opener, 25-23, at halftime before the host Goslings pulled away on Nov. 26. Nick Keyser and Boden Breunig led Sauk Prairie with 12 points each. Trent Backeberg had 10 points and seven rebounds, while Braden Schaaf added eight points and Otis Andres had seven. • Sauk Prairie 65, Lodi 48 — Nick Keyser had 20 points, 10 rebounds and four assists to power the visiting Eagles on Nov. 30. Trent Backeberg added 13 points, while Brendan Marquardt had 11 points. • Sauk Prairie 68, Richland Center 34 — Nick Keyser led all scorers with 20 points as the host Eagles rolled to an easy win on Dec. 3. Jake Buckles added 10 points, while Casey Brickl had six. • Lake Mills 81, Sauk Prairie 46 — The visiting L-Cats built a 45-19 halftime lead and never looked back. • On deck: Sauk Prairie was at Reedsburg Tuesday, then hosts La Crosse Central Thursday at 7:15 and hosts McFarland Saturday at 1:45 p.m.