BY RICH PALZEWIC
CORRESPONDENT

APPLETON – If two games are any indication, the Bay Port girls’ basketball team will be a force to be reckoned with.

The Pirates traveled to Appleton East on Nov. 25 and came home with a convincing 50-35 win over the Patriots in a non-conference game at Appleton East High School.

“I’m liking this team,” said Bay Port head coach Kati Coleman. “We can have different girls step up each night, which will cause the other team not to narrow down on one person. We play hard, we have competitors and we play until the last second. I also love that we’re knocking down shots on the outside. We do need to limit our turnovers and work on game management but all of that that will come – this was only our second game. I can tell you that we won’t finish seventh in the (Fox River Classic Conference).”

Like their opening-game 73-70 win over Luxemburg-Casco, the Pirates once again got balanced scoring, as nine Pirates contributed. Bay Port was led by McKenzie Johnson’s 13 points, while Emma Nagel and Reagan McIntyre chipped in with nine and eight respectively. McIntyre had a pair of three pointers, while Nela Merxauerova, Johnson and Sofia Draghicchio each had one.

Nagel and Mady Draak pulled down seven rebounds, and the Pirates shot a solid 76.5 percent from the free-throw line (13-of-17).

Like Coleman mentioned, her team needs to control its turnovers after committing 21 in the game but Bay Port’s in-your-face defense, and full-court pressure led to 26 East turnovers. Bay Port is averaging 22.5 turnovers per game but is forcing almost 25 per contest.

The Pirates jumped out to a 26-11 lead at intermission and basically held that margin for the remainder of the way.

After hosting Sheboygan South in its first FRCC game of the season on Tuesday, Nov. 28, the Pirates will travel to Pulaski on Dec. 1, for an early-season FRCC clash with the Red Raiders.

Box score

Bay Port – 26, 24 – 50
Appleton East – 11, 24 – 35 

Note: to read the senior spotlight for Grace Van Egeren, a senior on the team, CLICK HERE.