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Column: It’s what winners do. Lemont’s PJ Pipes came off the bench last year. He erupts for 30 points to lead turnaround for Green Bay.

The frustration of a nine-game losing streak to start the season.

The ongoing mitigation issues and fear of the coronavirus pandemic.

Not exactly how Lemont graduate PJ Pipes envisioned his senior season in men’s basketball playing out at Green Bay.

“It was the toughest stretch of my career,” Pipes said. “But I knew if we would keep working and being safe, the wins would come. And in the long run, it’s going to make us mentally and physically stronger.”

Pipes’ words have turned prophetic.

The Phoenix have won three straight games, including back-to-back victories Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 in the Horizon League against Oakland.

And guess who has been an integral part of the turnaround?

Yep, Pipes.

In that regard, he has been the Pipes Piper. A guiding light whose superior skills and calming influence allowed the Phoenix to weather the storm.

The 6-foot-2 Pipes is averaging 14.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists.

It was Pipes’ 30-point eruption on Jan. 2 against Youngstown State that snapped a nine-game skid and ignited a three-game winning streak.

“It meant a lot with us winning the game,” Pipes said of scoring 30 points. “It was one of those games where it felt like everything was going in.”

That’s because almost every shot Pipes put up went in.

He made 7 of 11 from the floor, including 6 of 7 from the 3-point line. He was a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, which isn’t a surprise considering he’s 30-for-30 on the season.

“You can’t miss free throws,” he said. “Those are the free ones.”

True, but plenty do miss them.

What stands out most about Pipes’ performance against Youngstown State was his ability to rise to the occasion during crunchtime.

That’s not a surprise to anyone who watched him at Lemont. Down the stretch, Pipes was money most of the time, averaging 22.5 points as a senior.

Against Youngstown State, he scored 12 of his team’s final 14 points of a 79-69 win.

More impressively, he had zero turnovers.

“The game before against Wright State, I was struggling and made a few mistakes with the ball,” Pipes said. “I wanted to fix that against Youngstown State.”

By fixing it, Pipes led the Phoenix to a much-needed win.

The Phoenix lost a handful of agonizingly close games during their skid.

Pipes couldn’t accept another close-but-no-cigar outcome vs. Youngstown State.

“I was like, ‘We’re not losing another close game,'” he said. “Our whole offense was clicking.”

And it hasn’t stopped. Green Bay scored 84 points Jan. 8 during a three-point overtime win over Oakland and 87 points during a nine-point win the next day.

All of a sudden, the Phoenix are rising in the standings. Just like Pipes thought they would.

“Once you get that first win after being close so many times, you see what it takes to win,” he said. “We have a young team. If we minimize the turnovers, we’re going to be fine.”

Pipes remembered when he was part of the up-and-coming group of players.

Now, the sun is setting on his college career.

“It feels like I just started college and now I’m the second oldest player on the team,” Pipes said. “It’s gone by fast.”

Like most student-athletes, Pipes has faced some obstacles. When he returned from an injury last season, the coaching staff believed he was better served coming off the bench.

That decision wouldn’t sit well with a lot of players, especially one who had started 28 of 33 games as a freshman and 20 of 38 as a sophomore.

Pipes, however, had no issue with his new role. That takes a special type of person.

“I was enjoying coming off the bench,” he said. “You come in after you see how the game is flowing. It was fun. I like whatever role that helps the team win.”

That’s what winners do.