Eagles’ boys topple Portage

They were down four starters. By the end of the game, they were without six players. But Sauk Prairie’s boys basketball team never blinked. Instead, the Eagles battled, scrapped and pulled out a thrilling 57-52 win over host Portage on Jan. 28. Sauk Prairie improved to 7-3 on the year, while the Warriors fell to 4-12. “The Portage win was awesome,” Eagles coach Sean McGann said. “I told my guys that it was the first time I’ve truly been inspired coaching. For us to have six players out, including four starters, and still win the game says a lot about this group.” It sure does. Sauk Prairie returned from a two-week quarantine, but was still without several of its top players. Fortunately for the Eagles, they still had senior standout Brandt Wilson. Wilson scored 29 points, including 15 in the first half when the Eagles built a 30-24 lead. “Brandt carried us with 29 and it was an incredibly efficient 29,” McGann said. “He’s been our guy all year and I’m very proud of how far he’s come as a player.” Wilson had six consecutive points late in the first half as the Eagles turned a 22-22 tie into a 28-22 lead. Sauk Prairie then opened the second half on a 6-2 run and pushed its lead to 36-26, its biggest of the night. Portage answered with an 8-0 run and crept within 36-34. But Sauk Prairie pushed its lead back to 49-39 with just more than 2 minutes left. The Warriors closed within five twice down the stretch, but the Eagles kept them at bay. “Guys who have not played big minutes stepped in and played with amazing energy and effort for all 36 minutes,” McGann said. “It forced our guys to play as a team and to trust each other, and they did exactly that.  “Ethan Gibbs, Kyle Breunig, Eddie Breunig, Connor Ballweg, Fadil Ahmetaj, and Elliot Drew all stepped up and had our guys’ backs and it was so fun to be a part of.” • On deck: Sauk Prairie hosted Baraboo Monday and Westfield on Tuesday. The Eagles travel to Reedsburg Thursday, then McGann will head to the postseason meeting. “As postseason approaches I feel good about this group,” McGann said. “With nine seniors, I am seeing a lot of teaching in practice done by them. It’s fun to watch.  “I think the Portage game really helped with our depth, knowing that we can put guys in there and they can play. We still have a lot to work on, and we need to continue to improve our offensive movement as we inch closer, but we will get there.”   Jan. 28 SAUK PRAIRIE 57, PORTAGE 52 Sauk Prairie . 30 27 — 57 Portage …….. 24 28 — 52 SAUK PRAIRIE (fg ft-fta pts) — Gibbs 3 4-7 12; R. Breunig 1 0-0 3; E. Breunig 2 2-4 7; Wilson 11 6-7 29; Drew 1 0-0 2; Ahmetaj 1 2-2 4. Totals 19 14-20 57. PORTAGE — Mael 0 3-6 3; Brouette 6 1-1 15; Schuette 0 2-3 2; Reichhoff 2 0-0 5; Hensler 4 1-2 9; Michael 1 0-0 3; Roberts 5 4-4 15. Totals 18 11-16 52. 3-point goals: SP 5 (Gibbs 2, R. Breunig, E. Breunig, Wilson); P 5 (Brouette 2, Reichhoff, Michael, Roberts). Total fouls: SP 12; P 20. Technical fouls: P 1.