By Greg Bates
Correspondent
GREEN BAY – For 27 straight games, the Bay Port girls’ basketball team was invincible.
On Feb. 11, rival Notre Dame Academy cracked the code.
The Tritons used home-court advantage, a fast start, stifling defense and scored the last seven points of the game – after Bay Port tied it – to pull off a 43-36 victory in a Fox River Classic Conference showdown.
Bay Port, the No. 1-ranked Division 1 team in the state, entered the game 19-0 overall and was the lone undefeated team remaining in Division 1.
It had won 46 of its last 47 games.
“We needed it, so it was a good win for us,” said Notre Dame head coach Sara Rohde. “Our girls executed the game plan well.”
Notre Dame (14-6, 12-4 FRCC) came into the game on a tough streak, losing three of its last seven games.
“It’s huge,” said Notre Dame junior Sammy Opichka about the victory. “We needed this confidence booster because we’ve been in a slump and this will help us before the playoffs. With it being Bay Port’s only loss this season is really cool, too.”
Bay Port head coach Kati Coleman said she is hoping the loss will spark some change in her players.
“A loss isn’t a bad thing,” she said. “It shows what we need to work on. Notre Dame played extremely well – they took us out of our game.”
Bay Port beat Notre Dame 63-48 Jan. 10, but the rematch was different.
Guard McKenzie Johnson went off for 22 points, including six 3-pointers, in the Bay Port victory.
Johnson was limited to two total field goals and five points in Tuesday’s loss.
“We didn’t want to give her open looks again,” Rohde said. “Georgia Gregoire did a great job of face-guarding her. Coming off ball screens, we knew where she was at all times and we didn’t want to let her get going.”
Another key for Notre Dame was its bench play, specifically Maggie Gallagher.
After starter Sarah Hardwick picked up her second foul in the first 1:54 of the game, Gallagher was called on for valuable minutes.
The junior had scored 32 points all season entering the game but tallied six baskets inside and 14 first-half points.
“It’s cool Maggie could put up those needed points at the crucial point in the game,” Opichka said. “She stepped up and got us back in the game.”
The Tritons jumped out to a 10-3 advantage to settle into the game.
“I think we got in their heads a little bit,” Opichka said. “Playing with confidence got us knowing we could put up a fight. We executed our game plan, which helped in the long run.”
Notre Dame was up 30-24 at the half before Bay Port inched back.
“Our first half was good,” Rohde said. “We were getting some looks on offense, which was good because we’ve been struggling to score lately. Our girls executed on defense, and we focused our energy in different ways.”
An Alaina Abel basket with 3:18 remaining tied it at 36.
Sitting in the one-in-one situation at the free-throw line, Notre Dame converted on three-of-four foul shots – Charley Apple hit a pair and Opichka one.
Abel launched a three-pointer with 53 seconds on the clock that went awry and Apple knocked down two free throws to ice the game.
Bay Port, which was led by Mady Draak’s 12 points, put up only 12 second-half points.
“I’ll be disappointed if we don’t learn from it,” Coleman said. “Our locker room has lots of girls who want to win, so I know they’ll use it to their advantage.”
“I like to see this competition going into tournament time, so it’s nice for us to be playing Bay Port,” Rohde said.
Photos by Jim McNicoll
