The Eagan boys' basketball team was looking to build off a fifth-place finish in the South Suburban Conference in 2013-14. It hasn't transpired in large part due to injuries and illness.
"We haven't had a lot of games where we've had our entire varsity team," Eagan coach Matt Vollum said.
The Wildcats dropped a recent 93-92 decision to Prior Lake despite a school-record 46 points from senior point guard Bryndan Matthews. The team's top scorer is averaging 19.5 points per game, but missed some games because of a back injury.
"It was fun for him, the team and the fans," Vollum said. "He made some incredible shots." The previous one-game school mark was 39 points, shared by Luke Anderson (2001) and Michael Gorder (2013).
The end result, though, was Eagan's seventh setback by six points or fewer on the season. Four of those losses have been decided by one field goal.
The Wildcats hope to make amends at playoff time, though Class 4A, Section 3 is one of the toughest in the state. It includes No. 2 Apple Valley, No. 4 Cretin-Derham Hall, No. 8 East Ridge and No. 12 Eastview, according to Minnesota Basketball News' state rankings.
Senior guard Chase Seiberlich, the team's second-leading scorer, has returned after being sidelined by a concussion and foot injury, as has senior forward G.T. Johnson, who ranks fourth in scoring and also was sick for a short period of time.
"Now that we're getting healthy, we're trying to do the things that will allow us to be competitive in the section," Vollum said. "It doesn't get any easier."
