By Murray Gleffe
Correspondent
SUAMICO — On most nights, Bay Port girls’ basketball player Raegan McIntyre is the fifth option in her team’s offense.
However, on this night, the senior might have saved Bay Port’s undefeated season thus far by scoring 15 points to lift the Pirates to a come-from-behind, 51-44 Fox River Classic Conference victory over De Pere Feb. 7 at Bay Port High School.
“I felt like I had to step up tonight,” said McIntyre. “Emma [Nagel] is out, and teams are starting to face-guard Mac [Johnson] and play physical on Mady [Draak]. I think we learned a big lesson tonight, and now going forward, we are going to take into account this game and step up down the stretch of the season.”
Emma Krueger added 13 points for Bay Port, while Jordan Meulemans scored a game-high 18 for De Pere.
The Pirates (19-0 overall, 15-0 FRCC), the No. 1-ranked Division 1 team in the state, took an early 7-2 lead after Johnson hit a triple.
It would be her lone points of the game.
With an uncharacteristic cold shooting night from Bay Port, the Redbirds grabbed their first lead of the contest, 10-9, after Meulemans connected on a long-range bomb.
De Pere extended the lead to 22-13 when Oakley Witteck took the ball from the top of the key and went all the way to the basket for an easy two.
It was part of a 20-6 run which spanned nearly 11 minutes.
“De Pere is an extremely good and well-coached team,” said Bay Port head coach Kati Coleman. “It was probably their best game I’ve seen them play. We dug ourselves a hole early in the first half.”
Bay Port closed the first stanza with seven quick points to cut De Pere’s margin to 22-20 at the break.
The Pirates carried the momentum over to the start of the second half with two made baskets to regain the lead.
With its shots not falling from the outside in the first 18 minutes, Bay Port decided to bang it inside for the second 18 minutes, and it paid off.
McIntyre hit four consecutive free throws after being fouled and then nailed a short bucket in the paint to give the Pirates a 32-26 lead with 12:52 remaining.
The Redbirds (9-9, 6-8) had one last charge in them, scoring 12 of the next 14 points to go up 38-34 with 9:25 left.
However, the Pirates would not be denied down the stretch.
Krueger connected on a three-point play, Draak hit a rare three-pointer and McIntyre hit back-to-back baskets in the lane for a 47-41 lead with 3:09 remaining.
“Our conference is a lot better this year than last,” added Coleman. “To be able to take first or share it with somebody helps the confidence of the girls.”
Bay Port claimed at least a share of the FRCC title with three games remaining.
The Pirates would have to lose their remaining three conference games, while Green Bay Preble (12-3) would have to win out to force the tie.
Box score
De Pere: 22, 22—44
Bay Port: 20, 31—51
Redbirds: Meulemans 18, Dorn 8, Schneider 8, Witteck 7, Bierowski 2, Hubbard 1.
Pirates: McIntyre 15, Krueger 13, Draak 9, Abel 6, Hendricks 5, Johnson 3.