Port wins regional over rival, Grady hits 1,000

The Port Washington High School boys’ basketball team has been on a mission all season, and the Pirates weren’t going to let a rival stand in their way of a regional championship at home last Saturday.

Port Washington knocked off Cedarburg, 61-52, to win a Division 2 regional title.

Senior Grady Karrels led the Pirates with 20 points and eclipsed 1,000 points for his career. He shot 4-for-8 from the field and made 11 of 12 free throws.

“I couldn’t be happier for him. It’s impossible not to root for a kid like him, and getting it the way he did is the cherry on top,” coach Garrett Hoffmann said.

Senior Cal Loose, who reached 1,000 points earlier this season, had 13 points on 4-for-10 shooting and four steals. Aiden Mitchell had 11 points and eight rebounds.

“It was a great program win,” Hoffmann said. “It was back-and-forth most of the way, and we were able to extend (the lead) down the stretch with some big stops.”

The win sets Port up a rematch with Slinger in Cedarburg on Thursday, March 12.

Port won at Slinger, 57-56, on Jan. 6, ending the game on a 7-0 run in the last 6 minutes, 17 seconds. Port, 24-1, is ranked No. 1 in Division 2 and Slinger, 20-4, is No. 2 in the Bound Wisconsin/Zaleski Sports Boys Basketball Media Poll.

Thursday’s winner plays at Sheboygan North on Saturday for a chance to go to state.

Last Friday, Port beat Milwaukee Marshal, 73-31, at home. Karrels had 10 points, Loose had 16 and Izaiah Scheftgen had 12 along with 10 rebounds.

Grafton, 3-22, which battled injuries from football season all year long and could never get on track, ended its season with a 59-42 loss at West Bend West on March 3.

“We came, we fought,” coach Damon James said. “I thank the seniors for their time, love and didecation to the program.”

Grafton’s seniors include James’ son DJ, Adam Dembiec, Braxton Boehlke, Paxton Rechcygl, Jack Marti and Ian Cornelius.