Game Report: McFarland 72, Sauk Prairie 55

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KEYS TO THE GAME</strong><br><br>It was a game of runs through the first two-thirds of Tuesday's Badger Small Conference matchup pitting visiting McFarland against Sauk Prairie. McFarland took a 25-18 lead with just under seven minutes left in the first half behind two dunks and a three-point basket from junior [player_tooltip player_id='2140913' first='Eli' last='Krueger']. Sauk Prairie, spurred on by some impressive three-point shooting from senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022082' first='Boden' last='Breunig'], went on a 13-0 run to end the first half, taking a 39-34 lead into intermission. Scoring the first basket of the second half to make it 41-34, Sauk Prairie then had a cyclone of sorts hit its defense. McFarland, coming out with rugged determination in the second half on both ends of the court, used a 15-0 run early to seize control of the game at 49-41. Sauk Prairie battled in an effort to make another run, but McFarland's strong defense kept the Eagles from any sort of scoring spurt in the second 18 minutes. [player_tooltip player_id='3020976' first='Ben' last='Bosold'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3020977' first='Kam' last='Meinholdt'] made three-point shots in the final minutes of the game to secure the win for McFarland.<br><br><strong>STAR OF THE GAME</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2140913"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695dfadbb8d17"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With NCAA Division I scholarship offers from Green Bay, Toledo and Southern Utah, much is expected of Krueger. He came through with flying colors in the comeback triumph over Sauk Prairie, scoring 20 points, hitting two three-point shots, dishing several assists and matching his career-best with four dunks. In addition, Krueger's shot-blocking and defensive presence made Sauk Prairie opponents think twice when venturing into the lane. "Eli has stepped up big time on the defensive end this year," McFarland coach Jeff Meinholdt said. "Guys get into the lane and then don't want to shoot it when they encounter Eli."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EMERGING PLAYERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2140920"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695dfadbb8dbf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Crull provided the offensive punch McFarland needed to overtime a seven-point deficit in the second half. He scored the majority of his 16 points after intermission and buried a couple of huge three-point baskets while helping the Spartans' rally past Sauk Prairie. In addition to scoring from deep, Crull showed the ability to use his length and size to post-up smaller guards while also catching the ball on the perimeter and scoring off the bounce. Also an outstanding football prospect as a quarterback, the left-handed Crull's athleticism and scoring are vital to McFarland's success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2423225"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695dfadbb8e36"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A young player who competes with plenty of poise and skill, Fischer tossed in 12 big points for McFarland in its win over Sauk Prairie. The starting point guard did a good job of orchestrating the Spartans' offense while also picking his spots to put the ball in the basket himself. Fischer and classmate [player_tooltip player_id='3315080' first='Joe' last='Fortune'] give McFarland a talented backcourt duo for the next three seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2641947"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695dfadbb8ea5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Andres played major minutes as the starting point guard for Sauk Prairie. His responsibilities were plentiful as well as he set up the Eagles' offense, handled the ball against pressure defense and guarded Crull and others on the perimeter. He succeeded in many different ways despite giving up some size to McFarland defenders. Andres finished with seven points and hit a triple at the end of the first half to give his team a five-point leader at intermission. Moreover, he competed with toughness and a strong basketball feel for Sauk Prairie throughout the contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE BIG PICTURE</strong><br><br>McFarland opened the season with a non-league loss to Milton, but the Spartans now have won seven games in a row. McFarland hosts Fort Atkinson Friday before playing two big games next week -- Tuesday hosting DeForest and Friday at league-rival Mount Horeb. <br><br>Sauk Prairie slipped to 5-4 overall and 2-1 in the Badger Small with the loss to McFarland. Coach Sean McGann's squad, which earlier in the season posted an impressive win over league-favorite Mount Horeb, plays at Stoughton Saturday.<br><br><strong>FROM THE COACHES<br><br>From McFarland coach Jeff Meinholdt:</strong><br>"The second half was just how we are wired ... we responded well to the adversity of being down at half. We had to bounce back and we did by playing unselfishly and locking down on defense. This team is so fun to coach. They are all so unselfish and share the ball very well."<br><br><strong>BOXSCORE<br><br>McFarland (34-38 = 72)</strong><br>Fischer 12, Crull 16, Krueger 20, Meinholdt 9, Bosold 7, Roh 2, Fortune 5, Lewis 0. Three-point field goals: Crull 2, Krueger 2, Meinholdt 2, Bosold 1, Fortune 1. FT: 5-5. Fouled out: None. Record: 7-1.<br><br><strong>Sauk Prairie (39-16 = 55)</strong><br>Ganser 11, Buckles 3, Marquardt 9, Andres 7, B. Breunig 15, Paukner 4, Meyer 3, Patterson 3. Three-point field goals: B. Breunig 3, Meyer 1, Andres 1, Buckles 1. FT: 5-7. Foued out: None. Record: 5-4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->