By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
ASHWAUBENON – The first time the Ashwaubenon and De Pere boys’ basketball teams played this season, the Jaguars won on a buzzer-beater.
The Redbirds made sure the Feb. 18 rematch didn’t get that close.
Behind balanced scoring and tenacious defense, De Pere came out on top in the Fox River Classic Conference game at Ashwaubenon High School, 63-45.
“We challenged the guys the last two days in practice,” said De Pere head coach Brian Winchester. “Last Friday [a 69-66 loss to Notre Dame Academy] was not one of our better defensive performances, but the guys responded well tonight. Ashwaubenon has won lots of close games this season, but we didn’t allow anything funny to happen down the stretch. I think we took them out of rhythm with our defensive effort.”
Coupled with Bay Port’s 70-39 victory over Pulaski, the Jaguars (14-6 overall, 13-3 FRCC) and the Pirates (16-3, 13-3) are tied atop the conference standings with two FRCC games to play.
On the offensive side of things, the Redbirds (13-7, 11-5) had three players score in double digits: Will Dehn (17), John Kinziger (14) and Ben Basten (12).
De Pere’s Ethan Hohol, who had six points and grabbed 11 rebounds, said the win gives his team confidence going into the postseason.
“It means lots to us to come in here and get a win, especially with what happened the first time we played them,” he said. “We work hard, and this win showed people what we have.”
Hohol made four free throws and a field goal.
“We have plenty of guys on the team who score the points, so my job is to get rebounds, work hard and put in the effort,” Hohol said.
With the Redbirds clinging to a 17-16 lead, Dehn nailed a three-pointer as part of a 20-8 run to end the first half.
Dehn had a trio of threes in the first 18 minutes, while Kinziger and Basten added another three three-pointers combined.
Trailing 37-24 at the break, Ashwaubenon began the second half with a quick four points to force De Pere into a timeout.
But the Redbirds responded with a 10-3 run to seize the momentum back and coast to the victory.
Matt Imig led the Jaguars with 15 points, including a pair of triples.
The seeding meeting for the postseason is Sunday, Feb. 23.
“There are some good teams in the Milwaukee area, so I think the top five seeds are pretty much taken care of,” Winchester said of the Division 1 bracket. “I’m guessing Bay Port will be a No. 6 seed, and we will be a No. 7. We will see how things play out.”