By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
SUAMICO – With Emma Nagel doing a little bit of everything and McKenzie Johnson hitting from long range in the first half, the Bay Port girls’ basketball team got back to playing its brand of basketball.
The duo helped the No. 1-seeded Pirates to a 48-32 WIAA Division 1 regional final win over No. 8 Watertown at Bay Port High School Feb. 23.
Nagel had 14 points, 16 rebounds, five steals, four assists and a block, while Johnson scored 13 points in the first half.
“It’s like there’s a magnet to Emma with the ball,” said Bay Port head coach Kati Coleman about her 6-foot junior. “There are still times when she freelances and gets out of position, but overall she’s a monster. McKenzie has been working on her shot and it’s showing. We need her to continue to have confidence because her teammates look for her to shoot.”
With the victory, the Pirates will play No 4 Germantown Thursday, Feb. 28, in the sectional semifinals.
“Germantown is going to be tough,” added Coleman. “They have two kids that can ball. They can shoot a ton of three’s and get hot, and if their three’s are dropping, they are going to score a lot of points. Thursday will hands down be the hardest game we will play this season thus far.”
Germantown is the No. 5-ranked team in the state, one spot behind the Pirates.
With Bay Port clinging to a 17-11 lead halfway through the opening half, Johnson connected on a four-point play, then hit two more three-pointers in the next two minutes to give the Pirates a 30-15 lead at the break.
“We talked about how we have to start playing better,” said Johnson, who connected on four three-pointers in the game. “The teams are coming for us and each game will get more difficult. At our shootaround this morning, I was hitting my shots and feeling good.”
Nagel had eight points and nine rebounds at the half and brought the same energy to the floor after intermission.
“We knew we had to play a strong game after our game against Manitowoc Lincoln the night before,” said Nagel. “We kept our foot on the pedal and didn’t let up. I think our first half tonight was kind of our restart – it gives us confidence going forward.”
Mady Draak chipped in with eight points, and Emma Krueger added a pair of three’s, while Alaina Abel had seven assists and six points.
“That was our best half of basketball for sure in a while,” said Coleman of her team’s first 18 minutes. “It’s nice to see us playing the way we know how, but we still have a lot more to give.”
Bay Port advanced to the regional finals with a closer-than-expected 76-61 victory over No. 17 Lincoln Feb. 22 in the regional semis.
Peyton Coughlin (14), Nagel (13) and Johnson (13) all scored in double digits for the 23-1 Pirates.
Box score
Watertown: 15, 17 – 32
Bay Port: 30,18 – 48