BY RICH PALZEWIC
CORRESPONDENT
SUAMICO – The beat goes on for the Bay Port boys’ basketball team.
In front of a large and boisterous crowd, the Pirates pulled away from the De Pere Redbirds after halftime in a 69-52 Fox River Classic Conference home win Jan. 9.
Bay Port led just 36-31 at the half, but outscored the Redbirds 33-21 after the break to win its 24th conference game in a row.
Behind the one-two punch of Cordell Tinch (22 points) and Jack Plumb (19 points, 11 rebounds), the No. 5 ranked Pirates improved to 8-1 overall and 6-0 in the FRCC. Reserve guard Danny King pumped in nine points, all on three pointers to give Bay Port a big spark off the bench.
“Both teams always come to play against each other,” said Bay Port head coach Nate Rykal. “Cordell and Jack were excellent and Danny took advantage of their 2-3 zone and made some big shots. We attacked the basket in transition and against their man (defense) defense got fouled a lot. I’m very proud of our effort and our attitude. We know we have many things to get better at and we will improve.”
The Pirates committed just six turnovers and forced De Pere (3-7, 2-4) into 19 of its own. With both teams shooting below 43 percent, neither team shot the ball particularity well from the field, but Bay Port made some key three’s to seize the momentum away. King had back-to-back bombs from beyond the arc to give the Pirates a 24-17 lead at one point late in the first half.
By the time Bay Port committed its first foul halfway through the opening 18 minutes, the Redbirds already had six as a team. The Pirates went to the line a total of 26 times in the game, with De Pere shooting just 12 from the charity stripe.
Deland Phillips (6), Cade Johnson (5) and Carson Schroeder (4) were the only other players for Bay Port to score multiple baskets, while Brad Nies poured in 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Redbirds.
The Pirates travel to Green Bay Preble Friday, Jan. 12, for another FRCC contest. Bay Port will likely get a huge test when it travels to undefeated and eighth-ranked Pulaski (9-0, 6-0) Jan. 16 for a huge conference clash.
Box score
De Pere: 31, 21 – 52
Bay Port: 36, 33 – 69
