By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
SUAMICO – The anticipated matchup between the Bay Port and Notre Dame Academy girls’ basketball teams turned into a lopsided affair thanks to the hot shooting of McKenzie Johnson.
The Bay Port senior scorched the nets for 22 points, including a half dozen three-pointers, in the Pirates’ 63-48 Fox River Classic Conference victory at Bay Port High School Jan. 10.
Behind a 28-6 run to end the first half, the Pirates (11-0 overall, 7-0 FRCC) remained unbeaten, while the Tritons (8-3, 6-1) suffered their first setback in conference play.
“I was feeling it tonight,” said Johnson, who scored 16 points in the first half. “I owe it to my teammates for making good passes. Good passes make good shots. The defense will get more difficult as the season progresses, so I need to keep making my shots. I’ve been working on a quick release.”
Tied at 15 halfway through the first half, Johnson drained a three-pointer to start the game-changing run.
“It’s only one game, but beating Notre Dame – which is a fantastic team – gives us lots of confidence moving forward,” Johnson said.
Bay Port point guard Alaina Abel added nine points in the first half to help give the Pirates a 43-21 lead at halftime.
The Pirates came into the game ranked No. 1 in Division 1, while Notre Dame is ranked No. 4 in Division 2.
“When McKenzie is shooting like that, it opens up the entire lane,” said Bay Port head coach Kati Coleman. “Some of the stuff she is doing is unbelievable. She has two girls in her face and the opposition knows our plays, and she’s still hitting her shots.”
Notre Dame leading scorers Sammy Opichka and Charley Apple, who combined for only eight points before halftime, were saddled with early foul trouble.
“Hats off to Bay Port,” said Notre Dame head coach Sara Rohde. “Their defense was tough, and I think they got in our girl’s heads. We have to be tougher. They executed their game plan, and we have to be able to think, perform and do what we do – we didn’t do that tonight. Bay Port played well, and I don’t think we played particularly well, but much of that was because of how they played.”
Rohde was also impressed by Johnson’s perfect shooting night from beyond the arc.
“You can’t let Johnson shoot, and we let her shoot,” Rohde smiled. “We have to learn from this loss. Bay Port is athletic, physical and they defend.”
The Tritons made a mini-run to begin the second half, getting to within 15 at 50-35, but Bay Port junior reserve Sophie Vandeyacht nailed a three-pointer to bump the lead back to 18.
Mady Draak also had a strong game for the Pirates with her 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Notre Dame was led in scoring by Apple, Georgia Gregoire and Hope Barington, who all had nine points.
Nearing the halfway point of the FRCC season, Coleman is impressed with her team’s fight since all-stater Emma Nagel went down with a knee injury.
“I’ve learned my girls are tough, both physically and mentally and can fight through adversity,” Coleman said. “We are playing well as a team.”