One more win for one Port senior

Port Washington High School senior Kayla Johnson hasn’t been on stellar basketball teams as the Pirates rebuild their program.

But on Feb. 15, Johnson put on a super performance in leading Port to its fifth win of the season.

Port pummeled Nicolet, 69-47, in its most convincing North Shore Conference victory of the season that helped seal a tie for last place with the Knights.

Johnson scored 22 points, snagged 11 rebounds and had five assists.

“It’s the best game that she has played in her four years here. It was a good moment to have that,” coach Jakob Wahl said.

It came on senior night. Johnson is the team’s only one, committing to a program in which blowout losses were much more common than victories as the youth program was in the process of getting back up and running.

“She stuck it out for four years through lean times,” Wahl said.

This year, Johnson was joined by four freshmen in the starting lineup.

“From a social perspective it can’t be the easiest all the time, but she’s there for them,” Wahl said.

Center Lillian Merow had 18 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks. Guard Hope Gilhooly had 10 rebounds, nine assists and three points. Point guard Sierra Miller had seven points, six rebounds and five assists. Junior Jenna Ollman and freshman Paige Scheunemann each had six points.

Port held a 30-21 halftime lead. The Knights closed the gap in the second half before Port pulled away, adjusting to the Knights’ variety of defenses.

“The girls took care of the basketball and we hits shot when we needed to,” Wahl said.

Morgan Williams  had 16 points for Nicolet.

At West Bend West last Friday, Port fell behind, 35-20, at halftime and nearly came all the way back in a 60-50 loss.

The Pirates cut the lead to five with seven and a half minutes left but couldn’t quite get over the hump. Fouls and fundamentals were issues, Wahl said.

Scheunemann had 12 points. Merow had nine points and seven rebounds. Johnson had nine points, seven rebounds, three assists and four steals. Maggie Zirbes had six points and four steals. Gilhooly had four points and eight rebounds. Miller scored five points.

For West, Lexi Williams had 24 points and 10 rebounds. Wahl praised Miller for her ball handling all season.

“She has really been taking care of the basketball and has been our primary ball handler. She rarely comes out,” he said. “Tteams have been coming after her, and she has been able to maintain her poise.”

Port was to play at Milwaukee Vincent in the first round of the playoffs on Wednesday.

Weyker-led Warriors cruise past Sheboygan Christian

Ozaukee sophomore Caitlyn scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in leading the Warriors to a 62-46 win at Sheboygan Christian last Thursday.

 “We continued to work on our defense and running our plays. All players got opportunities on the court,” coach Linda Weyker said.

Natalie Miller had 13 points and seven rebounds. Sophie Uhlenberg had 12 rebounds and seven points. Gabby Klas had nine points and freshman Paige Kurlinski had nine points and seven rebounds.

Mackenna Epping had 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Eagles, 0-19 in the Big East.

Ozaukee, 11-13 overall and 9-10 in the Big East, was to host Kohler in the playoffs on Wednesday. The winner plays at St. Mary’s Springs on Friday.