By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
SUAMICO – Logan Geissler scored a game-high 24 points, and 11 different players scored for the Bay Port boys’ basketball team in an 80-69 Fox River Classic Conference victory over De Pere Jan. 25 at Bay Port High School.
Geissler was 7-for-12 from the field and a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line in helping the Pirates (9-5 overall, 8-3 FRCC) win their fourth straight game.
“I just did a good job making my free throws and finishing at the rim,” said the junior Geissler, who added three assists, four rebounds and three steals. “De Pere is always a tough team to play, so it’s nice to get the win. It’s important that we’ve started playing better here as we get later in the season.”
Since a 69-54 loss at Sheboygan North Jan. 8, Bay Port has been firing on all cylinders, as indicated by its current winning streak.
“Our goal after the North loss was to not lose another conference game,” said Bay Port head coach Nate Rykal. “The coaching staff challenged the guys to start playing better and more as a team. We got contributions from a lot of guys tonight, so that was very nice to see. Logan had a great game, but a lot of other guys stepped up.”
Chris Farrington added 14 points, while Mohamed Salem and Gunnar DeCleene chipped in with 10 and nine points, respectively, for Bay Port, which shot 46 percent from the floor and 80 percent from the free-throw line.
De Pere (8-6, 5-5) was hampered by 21 Bay Port offensive rebounds and 25 turnovers of its own.
“That was really the difference in the ball game,” said De Pere head coach Brian Winchester. “When you give up that many offensive rebounds and commit that many turnovers, there’s not a whole lot you can do. We just didn’t take care of the ball. We might have been able to overcome the turnovers had we rebounded better. Bay Port came out with a lot of energy and took it to us – hats off to them.”
The Redbirds were led by Mason Ellis’ 20 points and Will Dehn’s 18. Brad Nies added 12 points and nine rebounds.
The Pirates jumped out to an 8-0 lead 2 minutes into the game, prompting a De Pere timeout.
With Bay Port leading just 20-18 halfway through the half, the Pirates went on a 16-5 surge to end the first 18 minutes of play.
Bay Port’s biggest lead in the second half was 19 before the Redbirds closed the margin late.
Box score
De Pere: 23, 46 – 69
Bay Port: 36, 44 – 80
De Pere: Kinziger 4, Dehn 18, Ellis 20, Shinners 2, Hohol 4, Basten 2, Andrews 7, Nies 12.
Bay Port: Begotka 3, Plummer 3, Farrington 14, DeCleene 9, Weber 1, Thomas 6, Salem 10, Geissler 24, Kozak 3, Plumb 2, Bruntz 5.