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By Alex Fox, Xavier senior

CEDAR RAPIDS  - The Xavier  boys’ basketball team has had some ups and downs lately, but continues to work hard toward the postseason.

The Saints fell to 7-6 overall, 3-5 in the Mississippi Valley Conference after Tuesday night’s 45-31 loss to Cedar Rapids Prairie.

“Our teamwork has been good and we’ve been working hard in practices to get better,” sophomore Adam McDermott said. “Coach (Ryan) Luehrsmann has done a great job getting us prepared for our games.”

Before the loss to the Hawks, the Saints also came up short at Davenport Assumption, but bounced  back with a 56-42 win at Cedar Rapids Washington, Coach Leuhrsmann’s alma mater.

The Saints lost at  Cedar Rapids Kennedy on Jan. 8, but again bounced back with a home win over Dubuque Wahlert.

“We’ve had great fan support so far this year, and we’re trying to continue to build on our solid start to the season,” senior Corbin Woods said.

The Saints lost at streaking Linn-Mar last Friday before falling at Prairie Tuesday.

“We are just going to keep trying to get better every day in practice by focusing on the little things like rebounding and communication,” senior Reggie Schulte said. “We are going to work on taking quality shots and play with great intensity and enthusiasm.”

Xavier plays at Cedar Falls on Friday.