Our top 10 countdown of the best sports stories in Southeast Iowa from the 2020-21 academic year continues today with number eight on our list. In this countdown we include area schools of Columbus, Highland, Lone Tree, Winfield-Mt. Union, WACO, Keota, and Sigourney. The eighth best story takes us to the hardwood in Keota when the Eagle boys’ basketball team continued its tradition of excellence. 

The Eagles finished the winter with a 20-3 overall mark and 15-1 in the South Iowa Cedar League to be crowned conference champs. They lost to eventual state champs Montezuma in the final seconds of a class 1A district title game by a 53-51 score. Five players were named to all conference teams headlined by first team selections in Luke Hammen and Carson Sprouse. The program has always been a high flying offense with 62 points per game this year, but the story of the season was the progression defensively only giving up 42 points a night that ranked first in the league. Hammen led the offense with 17 points per contest and Sprouse added 15.9. Brady Duwa brought in 5.7 rebounds a game and dished out 2.7 assists. Additionally, 19-year head coach Dan Stout eclipsed the 300 career win mark in a February 2nd win over Sigourney. 

The Eagles have now recorded back-to-back 20 win seasons and that ties for the most since the 2013-14 campaign. Check back in tomorrow for number seven on our list when we recognize a historic softball career in Winfield.