ROYAL CITY — It was a matter of running into tough and tougher in prep boys basketball for Royal High the last week of December.

Traveling, the Knights lost at SCAC West perennial power Highland, 48-36, on Monday. On Saturday they lost at Connell, 78-44.

Coach Pete Christensen said there are several aspects of the game he needs to shore up. The question is whether it can be done before it’s too late to compete this year for districts.

The Highland game was competitive for at least a half. After the Scotties outscored Royal, 18-9, in the first period, Royal came back with a 15-10 second quarter.

However, the shooting wasn’t there – again – to sustain a victory. The Knights finished the evening hitting 25 percent of their shots from the field.

Comparatively hot at 40 percent, Corbin Christensen scored 14 points, all from the field. Kaden Jenks grew his double-double streak to five games with 33 percent shooting that produced 12 points.

Jenks led in rebounds with 13. Christensen and Isaac Ellis had six rebounds each.

At Connell, the Knights ran into a hornets’ nest. Playing as if they were making up for the recent stinging football playoff loss, the Eagles pounded Royal, 26-8, in the first quarter and 22-10 in the second.

The Knights rallied with a 17-13 third period, but it was too little, too late.

There was good news in the emergence of the Ellis brothers – sophomore Isaac and freshman Owen. They led the team with 12 points each.

Corbin Christensen had a great shooting night at 60 percent, but he put up only eight shots. He finished with 11 points.

The Eagles paid special defensive attention to Jenks to end his five-game streak of double-doubles. He finished with three points on 16 percent shooting. Team shooting was 30 percent.

Where the tallish Eagles really dominated was in rebounding. The limited the Knights to 17. Isaac Ellis led with six boards. Corbin Christensen had four.