By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
ASHWAUBENON – The Ashwaubenon boys’ basketball team is no longer unbeaten in the Fox River Classic Conference.
With the help of Cole Weber’s 15 points and six rebounds, Bay Port gave the Jaguars their first conference loss of the season Jan. 31 at Ashwaubenon High School.
The Pirates improved to 11-2 overall and 9-2 in the FRCC with a 61-50 win.
“The team played well today,” said the 6-foot-4 Weber. “I played my game and let the ball come to me. I took advantage of the situation.”
Weber’s career-high in points included a three-pointer.
“I’m not a three-point shooter,” Weber laughed. “I’ve been working all year in practice trying to get better. When I’m open, I take the shot and hope it goes in.”
The victory for Bay Port avenged an earlier-season, 19-point loss to the Jags.
“Since we lost to them, we had this game marked on the calendar,” said Weber. “We had to bring our best and play as hard as we could.”
After scoring four points in the opening half, Weber poured in 11 after halftime.
“Cole has been plugging away the last couple of years,” said Bay Port head coach Nate Rykal. “We’ve been waiting for a breakout game like this – he works so hard. He did a great job and brought lots of energy.”
The Pirates were coming off a 76-62 loss to Manitowoc Lincoln Jan. 28, so Rykal said he was glad his boys bounced back against conference-leading Ashwaubenon.
“The best medicine after a tough loss is to get right back on the court,” Rykal said. “We didn’t play bad against Manitowoc. Sometimes a slap in the face like we had can wake a team up.”
Logan Geissler, who recently announced his commitment to play at Division II Michigan Tech University, led Bay Port with 16 points.
After the game was tied 2-2, Bay Port never trailed after.
The Pirates jumped out to a 12-2 lead, only to see Ashwaubenon get to within 21-18 late in the first half.
The Jaguars (11-4, 10-1), who came into the contest averaging 60 points per game, were held to 20 before halftime.
Kyle Krueger, who poured in 23 points in the Dec. 20 win at Bay Port, was held to nine in the rematch. The 6-foot-5 junior didn’t score his first bucket until there was 1:35 showing on the first-half clock.
“Our guys scrambled around and played good defense,” said Rykal. “That was the key to the game. We were also more patient offensively. The first time we played them, we shot 3-for-33 on three-pointers. This game, we shot 3-for-15 – that’s a big difference.”
The Pirates saw their lead shrink to 39-35 halfway through the second half, but Weber’s three changed the momentum back to Bay Port.
From there, the Pirates went on a 10-3 run to put the game away.
“This win was huge,” Rykal said. “Everyone in the conference needed us to win, too. We are still a game down, so we need to win every game.”
Marcus Tomashek and Brady Wittig scored 15 and 10 points, respectively, to lead the Jaguars.
