New Ulm Cathedral boys basketball head coach Alan Woitas has his team at 6-2 going into the Christmas break.

In the losses, both by 9 points to Minnesota Valley Lutheran and Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s, free throw shooting has been a factor.

“We have not shot the ball well from the free-throw line, but that is something that I think that we will improve as the season goes on,” Woitas said. “We do have guys who are good shooters. It has just been a little bit of a flaw in our game right now. I am not super worried about it right now.”

Rebounding has also been a factor in the losses.

“We got out-rebounded in both of the losses and that is something that we struggle with at times when we are not super focused on it,” Woitas said. “We need to make sure we have five guys rebounding the basketball and not allowing second-chance points and creating second chance points for ourselves.

“Both of those games were one-possession games — you have to find ways to win each possession.”

Other than those two losses by a combination of 18 points, the Greyhounds have won contests by 20, 32, 33, 21, 17 and 20 points.

“We have played really well and up to our ability in those games,” Woitas said. “But coming out of the [Christmas] break, we have some really tough games. Sleepy Eye Public has had a great start — Springfield just beat BOLD the other night, so we will be tested.”

And the Greyhounds will also play at MVL in late January.

“We look forward to those challenges, especially in the Tomahawk Conference,” Woitas said. “There is a lot of parity there, so you better show up to play each night.”

Cathedral will get back players from injuries and sickness after the break.

“Isaac Miller has been battling through an ankle injury,” Woitas said. “He is a big part of the puzzle for us — he is a great defender and is capable scorer at all three levels. He does a lot of good things for us. He is smart player.”

Woitas said that sickness has been making its rounds through the team.

“Hopefully they are all healthy now,” he said. “In our last few games, we have had multiple guys in double figures and if we continue to do that it makes is tough to guard us.”

EAGLES LEARN IN 4-GAME

ROAD SWING

New Ulm High School boys basketball head coach Matt Dennis said his team did a lot of learning over games against Mankato East, Marshall, Redwood Valley and Mankato West as they went 1-3.

“The game against West (a 71-70 loss) was probably our best all-around effort,” he said. “We showed growth throughout those games.”

Dennis said that he wants to play tough games early in the season to learn

“We had a great team effort against West — had great energy on defense,” he said. “We were up early and for most of the game.”

Dennis said that James Osborne, Will Fossen and Ayden Jensen had solid games. Colton Benson made some key 3-pointers.

“We had a balanced effort that game and it showed what we can be.”

The Eagles are now 3-4 entering the Kwik Trip Holiday Tournament.

“Early in my coaching days, that record probably probably would have concerned me,” Dennis said. “But knowing what we scheduled this year and knowing what the end goal is, it does not concern me. Everybody wants that to be better. It is a long season to go. We have done a lot of learning so far this year.”

Dennis added that the scars that you get from losing make you who you are.

“We are continuing to grow as the season goes on,” he said. “We know that we have a target on our back. Our boys have earned that and I think that it is quite a compliment from where the program was to where these boys have brought it.

“The pressure is earned. We are looking forward to the Bethany Tournament and moving on from there.”