Bay Port Boys look to top FRCC

Following a second place finish in the Fox River Classic Conference, just one game out of first place behind De Pere, the Boys basketball team has high expectations for the upcoming season.  Coach Nate Rykal is hoping his team can compete for the top spot in the FRCC. “As always, our goal each year is to win conference, and we believe we can make that happen this year with the team that we have.”

Last year, Senior point guard Craig Minzlaff led the team in scoring with 11.8 PPG, as well as earning a First Team All-Conference selection. “Craig was a great player for us last year, but we have a few guys who can handle the ball, Logan White being one of them.” White, a senior this year, only played in 8 games last year, but has high expectations for this year. With De Pere losing the reigning conference player of the year, Brevin Pritzl, Coach Rykal thinks the conference will be more even than before.  “With De Pere losing Brevin, the conference race may be a little more open than last year, especially with two less teams in the conference.”

The change to the conference this year is that Green Bay East and Green Bay West have both left the FRCC to join the Bay Conference. The Pirates have never lost to East or West, so Coach Rykal thinks it might lead to a more balanced schedule. “With East and West out of the conference, it makes each of the ten [FRCC] teams play each other twice, so there are no advantages of playing a team once or twice.”

​The biggest rule change the WIAA made this season is making the games two 18-minute halves instead of four eight-minute quarters. “It definitely impacts the pace of play of the game,” said Rykal. “We usually press when we play defense in practice, so it gives our guys a chance to handle the pressure. We have great depth and sub freely, so it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.”

The Pirates open the season on the road against Appleton West on November 28.