West De Pere does it; Phantoms clinch share of Bay Conference title

DE PERE - Friday night the West De Pere boys basketball team was looking to accomplish something that hadn’t been done by the program since 1986 – win a conference title.

However, with four-time defending Bay Conference champion Seymour standing in the way, the Phantoms knew this would not be easy.

The teams entered the game with one loss each in the conference, so basically it was winner-take-all, although West De Pere does play Shawano on Saturday to wrap up the regular season.

From the tip West De Pere was ready and led for most of the game. And despite highlight-reel dunks from the Thunder, the Phantoms secured at least a share of the conference title with a 60-51 win in front of a standing-room only crowd.

“It’s big,” West De Pere coach Andy Werner said. “We were kind of taking baby steps and then last year we had the lead in the conference for a while and then we kind of faltered at the end. We tried to make the next step and sometimes it’s really difficult.”

West De Pere, ranked No. 5 in the FOX 11 Top 11 boys basketball poll, beat No. 6 Seymour, 66-63, earlier this season on a Cody Schwartz 3-pointer at the buzzer. This time West De Pere led most of the game, but it never led by more than seven points and Seymour’s star players, Sandy Cohen and Dakota Oskey made sure this would go down to the final minute.

Oskey had a brilliant base-line dunk, while Cohen closed the first and third quarters, respectively, with breakaway dunks. Nonetheless, West De Pere didn’t let it get to it, especially late.

“We talked about closing quarters and they closed quarters on us,” Werner said. “There wasn’t a lot of panic. We still had a two-point lead. We weren’t rattled in the fourth quarter. (Cohen) dunks all the time.”

What aided the Phantoms was Chandler Diekvoss played big in the second half. After four first-half points, he scored 14 and teamed with Schwartz (22 points) to better Oskey (18) and Cohen (16).

Diekvoss knew things would open up for him as Schwartz is averaging about 19 points per game.

“We know they would concentrate on Cody,” said Diekvoss, who averages about 16 points per game. “Cody went off in the first half and they keyed on him and that allowed me and Connor (Konshak) open to do what we need to do.”

Leading 40-38 entering the fourth quarter, Schwartz and Diekvoss never let Seymour even tie the game as they combined to make 12 of 13 free throws in the fourth quarter and scored 16 fourth-quarter points.

West De Pere was focused on getting that elusive conference title and after the final second ticked off the clock the student section rushed the court.

It was a celebration that was a long time coming.

“We don’t have anything to compare this to,” Diekvoss said. “It’s crazy. It’s great for the community. It’s amazing.”

The fans were amazing all night, on both sides.

“It was loud,” Diekvoss said. “At the end I was telling them to be quiet so we could call it ball screens. We couldn’t hear anything. It was just crazy.”

As for Seymour, coach Jon Murphy thought his players could’ve pulled this game out only if they were more patient on offense.

“We settled too much all night,” Murphy said. “I think we were 7 for 28 on threes. If we hold the ball we could’ve scored at will. They couldn’t guard Oskey inside. We’re not efficient enough.

“Not taking anything away from them; they’re a great team. These games come down to the last two minutes; you better respond.”

West De Pere has little time to celebrate as Saturday the Phantoms play at Shawano in a game that was postponed because of bad weather. A win and West De Pere wins the conference outright and a loss and it shares the title with Seymour.

“We have some unfinished business,” Werner said. “We’ll be ready.”

“I’m making sure everyone goes home and gets a nice rest,” Diekvoss said. “We have to take care of business (Saturday) before we even think about the playoffs.”

The Phantoms will get to add a number to the banner regardless of what happens Saturday, and while they want to beat Shawano, Friday’s win will be remembered for a long time.

“(This means) everything,” Diekvoss said. “Since 1986 we haven’t won it, so it means everything.

“We always knew we could do it. We have the talent, the teamwork and the heart to win it.”

• 3-pointers: Seymour, seeded No. 2, could host West De Pere, seeded No. 3 on Feb. 23 in a Division 2 regional final. … West De Pere beat Shawano in the first meeting, 62-45. … Both West De Pere and Seymour have a bye in regional openers and will play their first postseason game next Friday in a regional semifinal.
• Game ball: Diekvoss, who stepped up big in one of West De Pere’s biggest games in a long time.
• Numbers game: 1986 The last time West De Pere won a boys basketball conference title.

(5)WEST DE PERE 60, (6)SEYMOUR 51
Seymour………12   8  18  13  —  51
West De Pere…16  7  17  20  —  60

Seymour (18-4, 14-2): Casey Jefson 6, Dakota Oskey 18, Sandy Cohen 16, Hunter Van Elzen 3, Ray Danforth 3, Brian Heiden 5. 3-pointers: