CC Markus Spiske
The De Pere Boys Basketball team displayed its athleticism and skill Friday night at Manitowoc’s JFK Fieldhouse.
The undefeated Redbirds pulled away early in the 2nd half for an 84-47 victory over the Lincoln Ships on Wall of Fame Induction Night.
One of De Pere’s longtime assistant coaches is Valders native Brian Pritzl.
During a pre-game conversation with Pritzl, he said it all begins with defense.
“We knew we were coming in with some very good talent that was developing, but we’ve been really taken by the hard work and effort by all of the kids,” he said. “We challenge them every night to be defense first and everything else will follow after defense. And, they’ve embraced it, they get along as a team and are willing to be coached.”
And, the Redbirds have a big target on their back as the top-ranked team in the state.
“I always tell them you’re somebody’s Super Bowl right now,” he explained. “Everybody that comes to play you they want to get you because you have that target on your back. You better come and be ready and not take anybody lightly, any game, any opportunity because you only get so many in a year. And this team will only be together this year. So enjoy it, embrace it, get after it.”
Pritzl is a 1980 graduate of Valders High School where he played for former Vikings head coach Dick Nelson.
De Pere, by the way, played again Saturday night at Mequon Homestead and prevailed 64-to-41 over the Highlanders to improve to 17 and 0 this season.
