By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor

SUAMICO – The tears and sadness told the story – their season was over.

The No. 8-seeded Bay Port girls’ basketball team couldn’t overcome second-half foul trouble and a late run by No. 9 Hartford Union in a 61-52 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 1 regional loss Feb. 25 at Bay Port High School.

With the Pirates up 46-42 with five minutes remaining, the Orioles ended the game on a 19-6 run.

Bay Port ended its season with a 14-11 record.

“The finality of a season is hard,” Bay Port Head Coach Dennis Gladwell said. “During the regular season, you always have another game in a few days. In the postseason, it’s win or go home. I especially feel bad for the seniors – Jacki Szelagowski, Erin Simpkins, Kaitlyn Fischer and Maggie Luedke – who won’t get to play again. We played hard but got into a little foul trouble during the second half. We couldn’t be as aggressive defensively because of our foul trouble. We put (Hartford) on the (free-throw) line an awful lot.”

Despite the loss, Gladwell said his girls had a great season, and the future is bright for the program.

“There’s no doubt the future is bright,” Gladwell said about the 12 underclassmen – including eight sophomores – on the roster. “The kids coming up are also talented. Not many people respected this team, so I’m proud of our effort.”

One of those sophomores, 6-foot-1 Ellie McDermid, pumped in 18 points for the Pirates, including 12 in the second half.

Szelagowski added 10 points, while Luedke and Kyla Hendricks each chipped in 9.

Only five Bay Port players scored during the game.

After the Orioles scored the opening bucket of the game, the Pirates scored nine consecutive points.

Hartford then went on a 16-4 run to go up 18-13 with 5:30 remaining in the first half.

Bay Port trailed at the break, 24-22.

The Pirates managed only two field goals and a free throw in the last five minutes of the game.

Other regional scores – Division 1

No. 1 Germantown 92, No. 17 Green Bay East 38

No. 4 Milwaukee King 61, No. 13 Green Bay Preble 48

No. 3 De Pere 72, No. 14 Sheboygan South 38

Division 2

No. 1 Notre Dame Academy 74, No. 8 Luxemburg-Casco 17

No. 4 Menasha 56, No. 5 Ashwaubenon 33

No. 3 Fox Valley Lutheran 53, No. 6 Green Bay Southwest 47

No. 2 West De Pere 81, No. 7 Seymour 53