Breaking in the new gym in style

The crowd was rockin’ and the Port Washington High School boys’ basketball team followed suit to open up the new gym on Friday.

Four Pirates scored in double digits in leading the way to a 75-60 victory over Hartford in a brand new environment.

The school’s new gym, part of a $49 million referendum, is bigger and brighter.

That apparently made for easier free-throw shooting. The Pirates went 38-for-47 at the line to the Orioles’ 11-for-14.

“It was a very different experience. It was a great environment. It feels like a college gym almost,” senior point guard Adam Baierl said.

Senior Nolan Mueller said, “It’s definitely a different atmosphere. It feels more like an arena to us with the bleachers all compacted around us. It was very, very cool.”

Baierl and guard Tamai McKoy-Jackson each scored 17 points to lead the Pirates. Evan Lilly scored 15, and Brandon Kelling scored 12.

Many Pirates starred at the free-throw line. Baierl went 9-for-11, McKoy Jackson went 9-for-12, Lilly went 6-for-7 and Kelling went 6-for-6.

A couple of players said the new rims are still a little bit tight, but the home crowd helped make up for it.

“It’s a lot louder in here which is nice for us, not for them,” Kelling said.

Coach Brian Hebein said he likes the new atmosphere.

“It was crazy opening up the new gym. The students were rocking. A totally different vibe,” he said.

The Pirates took a 30-26 halftime lead and in the second half unleashed some zone defense and attacked the basket in building a double-digit advantage.

Late in the game, after two bonus free throws, Hartford coach Kevin McKenna received two technical fouls that led to his ejection and four more free throws, which helped push Port’s lead.

The Pirates were without starter Jacob Lippe, who was on a trip to North Dakota State where he will play football next year. Hebein praised the play of Kelling, Devon Edwards, Marcus Schmit and Noah Melka for filling in well.

Jake Lynch led the Orioles with 17 points. Jadon Marvin scored 10.

It was the second consecutive victory for the Pirates, after getting their first win at Cedarburg, 64-60, on Dec. 11.

After trading baskets early, Port’s full-court press created some turnovers and easy baskets, Hebein said.

But the Pirates got into foul trouble, and Hebein had to pull the press off. The Bulldogs made a run before Port clung to a 30-28 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Pirates extended their lead to 13 points, “and I think we started to play a little tight. We were a little nervous trying to secure our first win,” Hebein said.

The Bulldogs put on a press and shot well from the free-throw line to get back into the game.

But the Pirates held onto a nine or 10-point lead for much of the half.

A Bulldog dunked the ball in the final seconds, making a 6-point game look closer in the final tally.

Hebein was impressed with his team in handling a tall starting lineup, with most Bulldogs 6-feet, 4 inches or taller.

“We did a nice job rebounding and putting pressure on them to turn the ball over (23), and did enough from the free-throw line,” Hebein said.

Baierl scored 17 points, Lippe 13 and Lilly 12. McKoy-Jackson added eight points and Mueller seven.

The Pirates shot 16-for-21 from the free-throw line.

Bulldog Drew Biber scored 20 points and Nick Johnson scored 11. Cedarburg shot 16-for-18 at the free-throw line.

The Pirates, 2-3 in the North Shore Conference, were to play at Slinger on Tuesday and at West Bend East at 7:15 p.m. on Friday.

Grafton goes 1-1 in conference play

Grafton fell behind by 19 points at halftime to talented Nicolet last Friday on the way to an 87-69 loss.

Alex Huibretse scored a game-high 30 points, shooting 4-for-6 from the field, 5-for-9 on three-pointers and 7-for-8 from free-throw line. He added eight rebounds and five assists.

J.P. Benzschawel scored 14 points and had 10 rebounds, and Bryson Clauge scored eight.

Jalen Johnson led Nicolet with 28. Kobe Johnson had 16, and C.J. Hayed had 10.

On Dec. 11, the Hawks won at Whitefish Bay, 81-69. Huibregtse had 25 points. Jaden Polack had 18, Clague 15 and Ben Wilkin 14. Benzschawel and Wilkin each had seven rebounds.

The Black Hawks had a 45-41 halftime lead and outscored the Blue Dukes, 36-28, in the second half.

Jayden Jackson led Bay with 18 points. Demetrius Johnson and Harry Grams each scored 11.

The Hawks (2-3 in the NSC and 3-3 overall) were scheduled to host Cedarburg on Tuesday.