Persistence pays off for Nicolet boys, as Knights down Port in double OT

Glendale - A total of 12 different starting lineups, endless injuries and illnesses, assistant coaches having to fill in when only seven healthy guys were available for practice and, oh yes, a total of 14 losses in a row after winning its first two games.

Was it mentioned that the Nicolet boys basketball team also played two double overtime games last week, before finally pulling out a 59-53 decision over Port Washington on Friday?

The win finally broke that miserable losing streak.

And that's the kind of season it's been for veteran coach Paul Hepp and the Knights this season.

"We had four guys foul out in the double overtime loss to Milwaukee Lutheran (72-68 on Jan. 31) and another guy get hurt, but our bench did as good a job as it could in that game," Hep said. "The guys could have folded their tents on this season, but they didn't, and I give them a lot of credit.

Character-molding season

"It's sometimes hard to figure out who you are when you're winning, but with a season like this, you can sit back and reflect and see who you really are on the inside."

Nicolet is now 1-9 in North Shore play and 3-14 overall. In even further good news, Hepp believes he will have his full lineup ready for the first time this season by the time of Friday's home game against Grafton (6-11).

"We can still get some things done," Hepp said.

The win over Port did not come easily. The Knights were up five at the half and four at the three-quarter pole. They had a chance to clinch with some free throws with four seconds left, but couldn't put them down.

In the first overtime, they needed Nolan Wagner to hit one of two free throws to tie the score with 12 seconds remaining and then had to wait out a missed Pirate 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Pulling away in OT

In the second overtime, Wagner hit a 3-pointer from the baseline to start the session and that shot finally put Nicolet up for good. The Knights got the lead up to eight on two free throws from Eugene Bonner as they hit six of eight free throws in the session.

"I give the kids a lot of credit," Hepp said. "The same kind of situation. But they didn't go 'Oh no, here we go again.' They just plowed on. I'm very happy for them."

Tyler Miller had 21 points for Nicolet while Bonner had 13, Greg Pigg 11 and Wagner eight in the win. In the loss to Lutheran, Miller again had 21 while Pigg had 16 and Corey Smith 10.