NRHEG boys win first conference title since 1996
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys’ basketball team capped a remarkable turn-around year with a three-win week.
The Panthers captured Gopher Conference wins over Maple River, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown and Blooming Prairie to earn a share to the conference championship, their first since 1996.
All three wins came on NRHEG’s home court, where the Panthers have won eight of 10 games this season.
A year ago, the Panthers were 6-19 and finished seventh in the conference. With five consecutive wins, NRHEG finished 11-3 in the Gopher (tied for first with USC) and is 18-6 overall.
Maple RiverNEW RICHLAND – NRHEG had to rally from a halftime deficit to complete its season sweep of Maple River.
The Panthers, who won the earlier meeting 65-56, rallied for a 64-56 triumph over the Eagles in New Richland Feb. 10.
Maple River slipped to 6-6 in the conference and 11-12 for the year.
The Eagles torched NRHEG’s defense in the opening half, taking a 36-32 advantage at the intermission.
Oakley Baker and Trevor Tracy kept the Panthers close with 11 points apiece in the first half.
“We absolutely could not stop them on defense,” said NRHEG coach Pat Churchill. “We gave up the middle and did not contest many of their shots.”
“I told the kids at halftime if we didn’t play better defense we were not going to win the game,” said Churchill. “I thought we got after it a little more on the defensive end and gave ourselves a chance to get some stops.”
The second half was back-and-forth until about five minutes remained. Baker nailed a three-pointer that put NRHEG on top to stay.
Spencer Tollefson had a couple of big baskets down the stretch to keep the Panthers in front. NRHEG also connected on most of its free throws in the final minutes.
Balanced scoring paved the way for NRHEG with four players reaching double figures.
Baker led the winners with 16 points, Tollefson and Tracy popped in 15 points apiece and Kevin Kalis added 13. Ryan Patraw contributed five points and five assists.
Jonah Breiter led the Eagles with 15 points. Brian Doering and Will Keller scored 14 apiece.
Kalis led the NRHEG rebounders with seven boards.
The NRHEG junior varsity outlasted Maple River 60-56.
WEM
NEW RICHLAND – A 23-1 run in the second half sparked NRHEG to a 72-58 triumph over WEM in New Richland Feb. 11.
The Buccaneers fell to 8-4 in the conference and 14-8 overall. WEM won the first meeting 63-50.
Kalis scored 13 first-half points for NRHEG, hitting 9-11 free throws.
Baker pumped in 10 points in the first half.
Tollefson was saddled with three first-half fouls, but WEM had three starters with three fouls.
NRHEG left the floor holding a slim 29-27 lead at the break.
“I thought the first half was about as even as two teams could play,” said Churchill.
WEM opened up a 44-36 lead early in the second half.
After a timeout, the Panthers went on a 23-1 run to open up a 14-point lead and WEM never got back into it.
Tracy hit a pair of triples to start the run, and NRHEG made its free throws down the stretch, propelling the winners to a 43-point second half.
Kalis patrolled the paint for 20 points, Tracy pumped in 19, Baker finished with 16 and Tollefson chipped in with 11. Tracy handed out four assists, one more than Tollefson.
Cole Pope and Landon Harmon led the WEM attack. Pope fired in 17 points and Harmon scored 14.
“I was really proud of our kids tonight,” said Churchill. “WEM is a good program, very well coached and has been taking it to us for a long time. It was a big monkey off our back.”
The Panthers won the JV game over WEM by a 39-36 score.
Blooming Prairie
NEW RICHLAND – NRHEG avenged another conference loss and earned itself a share of the Gopher championship with a 56-39 win over Blooming Prairie in New Richland Friday.
BP won the first meeting this season 69-56.
The Blossoms are 8-6 in the conference and 14-9 for the year.
“The key to the game was on our defensive end tonight,” said Churchill. “We played great team defense. We were closing out and defending the post, and only giving them one shot.”
Behind 10 points from Baker and nine from Kalis, the Panthers took a 31-18 advantage at the break.
NRHEG stretched its lead to 20 points in the first four minutes of the second half and was never challenged again. Both teams scored 38 points in the second half.
Kalis topped the NRHEG scoring with 16 points, Baker finished with 14 and Tollefson added
Kalis completed his double-double by ripping down 12 rebounds.
John Rumpza flipped in 20 points for BP.
The Panther JV also made it a three-win week with a 58-35 trouncing of the Blossoms.
NRHEG closes its regular season schedule hosting Tri-City United Friday.