Sauk Prairie has high hopes

Start and stop. Fast forward, then pause. Sauk Prairie girls basketball coach Aaron Andres knows it could be one of those years. But the Eagles’ interim coach is just grateful for the opportunity to compete. “It will be a very strange year and it already is,” Andres said. “We know athletes and coaches will be in and out with quarantines, etc., but we are excited to practice and will be excited to play. The girls have been following the rules extremely well and have been awesome to coach.” Sauk Prairie had a full week of practice last week, but is off this week due to district orders. The Eagles hope to start up again next week, and their first game is scheduled for Dec. 7 against Lodi. When Sauk Prairie does get rolling, Andres will be a new face on the bench. Amber Fiene stepped down this summer due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Andres, an Assistant Principal at Sauk Prairie High School, has been involved in the Eagles’ basketball program at both the youth and high school levels the past seven years. Sauk Prairie athletic director Josh Boyer asked Andres to help with the Eagles’ five contact days earlier this summer.  When that went well, Boyer asked Andres to take the job on an interim basis. That will give Boyer a chance to search for his next coach in what’s hopefully a post-COVID environment. “I am really excited to try and put together the best possible season we can have with the strange conditions,” Andres said. “It is a great group of girls and families and I hope we get the opportunity to play.” The Eagles appear to be a program on the rise. Sauk Prairie went 13-32 during Fiene’s first two seasons, then went 13-11 last year. That marked the first time the Eagles finished with at least a .500 record since the 2013-14 team was 12-12. Sauk Prairie also won its first postseason game since 2014 last year, downing Portage in a WIAA Division 2 regional quarterfinal. The Eagles will be led by senior wing Naomi Breunig, a Winona State recruit. Breunig was named first-team all-Badger North Conference last year after she led Sauk Prairie with 17.9 points per game. Breunig also led the Eagles with 4.8 steals per game, 35 blocked shots, 28 three-pointers made and was second in rebounding with 4.0 per game. “Naomi Breunig returns as our leading scorer and has a great understanding of the game and passes the ball really well,” Andres said. Senior Olivia Breunig was second on the team in scoring last year (8.0) and will be counted on for big things again. “Olivia Breunig is a tremendous athlete and a very good shooter who competes every possession,” Andres said.   Seniors Ava Roach, Cassie Radl and Skylie Wardrop will provide both depth and leadership. Juniors Faith Holler, MaKenzie Breunig, Kassia Marquardt, Olivia Paukner all had varsity experience last year and provide a combination of defense and length. Junior Marissa Howard will also look to contribute. Sophomores Anni Braund, Maggie Hartwig, Alexis Klemm and Kaya Wilson all have varsity experience and give the Eagles length, athleticism and competitiveness. And freshmen McKayla Paukner will be added to the mix to help with guard play. Sauk Prairie’s combination of talent and experience could lead to big things if the Eagles can navigate what figures to be a strange year. “We have not had time to set our team expectations for this year and we are not sure what the season will ultimately look like, but we would like to keep building on what has been built,” Andres said. “Whatever opportunities we get to play we will be thankful for and we will compete every possession.”