By Murray Gleffe, Correspondent

ASHWAUBENON-Mason Dopirak pumped in 27 points Friday evening (Jan. 26) as the Ships defeated the Jaguars by a final of 64-48 in boys’ basketball action.

Dopirak connected on five of seven triples and made six of eight free throws.

The Jaguars were led by Anthony Guarascio’s 12 points. Jeremy Cox chipped in 10.

The Jaguars were outrebounded by a margin of 32-19.

The Jaguars started the game strong with a three pointer from Guarascio, and then on the next offensive possession Cox flung a beautiful no look pass to Guarascio who floated one in off the glass.

It gave the Jaguars an early 5-3 lead.

At the time, nobody knew it would be the last lead the Jaguars would enjoy the rest of the game.

Dopirak then went to work.

He hit a long-range shot from the corner to regain the lead for the Ships and then a bit later hit a 23-footer from the Jaguar bench to give his team a 20-13 lead with 7:48 left till halftime.

After the Ships Alec Messman connected on a short jumper in the lane, the lead had stretched to double-digits for the Ships (24-14).

The Jaguars, however, fought back and went on a 9-0 run near the end of the first half to get back within a single point.

Evan Wood started the surge with a floater from the free throw line, and Griffin Baierl ended it with a top of the key make.

The Ships and Jaguars exchanged baskets to end the first stanza as the Ships held onto a slim 26-25 lead.

Brayden Broecker started the second half with two second chance points off an offensive rebound.

It was the beginning of a bad omen for the Jaguars on the glass in the second half.

Dopirak then went back to work for the Ships.

He scored on three straight possessions to up the lead to 40-29 with 12:40 left in the contest.

Kenneth Brooks gave the Jaguars good minutes off the bench as he carved out three buckets in the paint during a two-minute stretch.

The Jaguars got the lead under 10 once again with 8:02 left after Guarascio connected on a three-pointer but that would be the closest the Jaguars would get the rest of the evening.

The Ships closed the door on the Jaguars with two straight makes off put-backs and went onto win the game by 16.

The Jaguars fall to 3-13 overall and 3-9 in the FRCC.

Manitowoc/Ashwaubenon Box Score

Manitowoc                  26,38, -64

Ashwaubenon            25,23, -48

Ships Final Totals: FG’s 20-46, 3 PT FG’s 7-17, FT’s 17-21, Rebounds 32, Steals 6, Personal Fouls 11

Dopirak 27, Hoffman 12, Broecker 8, Lensmeyer 7, Messman 4, Heinzen 4, Lukes 2

Jaguars Final Totals: FG’s 19-57, 3 PT FG’s 6-23, FT’s 4-7, Rebounds 19, Steals 8, Personal Fouls 15

Guarascio 12, Cox 10, Wood 8, Brooks 8, Baierl 7, Wagner 3