Strength, speed, and length were used against the Gibraltar Vikings as the Southern Door boys' basketball team led wire-to-wire in a 79-51 victory.
The Eagles jumped out to a fast start, partly thanks to Caden Pierre knocking down three quick shots from the outside, buying time for Drew Daoust to heat up after a cold start. Will Lecy, Liam Lindenberg, and Marshall Maltby hit their three-point shots to keep the game within single digits until midway through the half.
Daoust was able to penetrate the Vikings' interior defense late in the period, scoring 17 of his game-high 27 points in the first half. Pierre registered 11 first-half points and Lauden Berg collected nine of his 14 points in the frame to help the Eagles enter the locker room with a 53-22 halftime lead.
The Eagles tightened their grip on the game early in the second half with Daoust knocking down a pair of threes and Matthew Malvitz keeping possessions alive with multiple rebounds. The Vikings were also challenged by the Eagles' 1-3-1, which forced long and high passes that ended in turnovers.
Braden Sitte was able to finally crack the Eagles' code in the second half, finishing off the drives to the hoop with baskets or trips to the free throw line where he was a perfect 8-8. Sitte ended his evening with 20 points, with Maltby adding 10 points, Lecy chipping in with nine, and Lindenberg pouring in eight. In addition to Pierre and Berg, Daoust's night was complemented by 10 points from Malvitz in the Eagles' victory.
The Eagles will take on the Storm this Friday night with the Packerland Conference title on the line.
The Vikings will look for its second straight home win and a return to the victory column on Friday when they host Sturgeon Bay. That game will be featured on 105.1 The GOAT and NEWRadioSportsNetwork.com beginning at 7:15 p.m. with the pregame show followed by the opening tip at 7:30 p.m.
