“We knew this was a game we should win so we concentrated on playing shut down defense and not giving MR any easy looks,” said NRHEG coach John Schultz. “The shots they did get were off-balanced and hurried.”
NRHEG won the second half 30-4, despite regulars sitting out much of the time and going the final nine minutes without scoring.
Carlie “Dagger” Wagner fired in 27 points and handed out five assists to pace the Panthers.
Paige Overgaard flipped in 12 points, Cole contributed 11 and Jade “Jewel” Schultz added nine points, including the team’s only three-pointers. Schultz handed out a team-high seven assists.
Maple River shot just six percent from the floor, did not make a three-pointer and was 5-13 from the free throw line. No one scored more than three points for the Eagles.
NRHEG controlled the boards by a 41-12 margin including 22-3 on the offensive end. Schultz was NRHEG’s top boarder with eight rebounds, Overgaard snared six and Carlie Wagner grabbed five.
Schultz sparked the defensive effort with six steals, one more than Carlie Wagner and Cole.
Maple River was forced into 32 turnovers, while the Panthers made 11 of their own.
“I was happy with our intensity on defense and our effort on the boards,” said Schultz. “Those two things can carry you far in the playoffs.”
Blue Earth
MANKATO – Carlie Wagner carried NRHEG in the opening half, and the shooting improved in the second half as the Panthers bounced fourth-seeded Blue Earth 63-28 in the sub-section semifinal game at Mankato East Friday.
Blue Earth, which lost to the Panthers 54-17 during the regular season, finished its year 14-10.
“Gutty defense and controlling the boards kept us on top in the first half,” said Schultz. “We got some nice pressure on top on their guards which led to some fast break baskets.”
Carlie Wagner was unstoppable in the first 18 minutes, pouring in 26 points to spark the Panthers to a 35-11 lead.
NRHEG outscored Blue Earth 28-17 in the final half.
Wagner pumped in 36 points for the winners, and Schultz added 10. Both nailed three triples. Wagner dropped 15 of 24 shots from the floor.
Marnie “Ice” Wagner and Maddie “Fire” Wagner both hit a three-pointer in scoring seven and five points respectively.
Schultz passed out five assists, with Carlie Wagner and Maddie Wagner both handing out three.
The Panthers shot 36 percent from the floor, were 8-28 behind the arc and 7-11 from the foul stripe.
The Bucs got off 28 fewer shots and connected on just 27 percent. BE was 2-12 behind the arc and 6-12 from the foul line.
Krista Hassing was the lone Buccaneer to find double figures with 10 points.
The Panthers held a 38 to 21 rebounding advantage, including 20-7 on the offensive boards.
Schultz yanked down 10 rebounds, Cole grabbed five boards and Carlie Wagner, Overgaard, Marnie Wagner and Hannah Lundberg all snared four rebounds.
Wagner had seven steals on defense, with Schultz and Overgaard both getting three thefts.
NRHEG was guilty of 19 turnovers, but forced the Bucs into 30 miscues.
The Panthers tangled with third-seeded Hayfield Wednesday evening. The Vikings upset second-seeded Southland.
Hayfield, 19-8, lost to NRHEG 59-47 during the regular season.
A NRHEG win puts them into the Section 2AA championship game against the St. Peter/Kenyon-Wanamingo winner at MSU-Mankato at 8 p.m. Friday.
NRHEG 79, Maple River 9
Maple River 5 4 9
NRHEG 49 30 79
NRHEG (79): C. Wagner 27, Overgaard 12, Cole 11, Schultz 9, Mar. Wagner 8, Mad. Wagner 7, Lundberg 5. FG: 33-72 (46%, 1-12 3-pters.), FT: 12-16 (75%), PF: 18, TP – 79.
Maple River (9): Spear 3, Hengel 2, Landsteiner 2, Berkosky 1, Caven 1. FG: 2-34 (6%, 0-9 3-pters.), FT: 5-13 (38%), PF: 10, TP – 9.
NRHEG 63, Blue Earth 28
NRHEG 35 28 63
Blue Earth 11 17 28
NRHEG (63): C. Wagner 36, Schultz 10, Mar. Wagner 7, Mad. Wagner 5, Overgaard 3, Lundberg 2. FG: 24-66 (36%, 8-28 3-pters.), FT: 7-11 (64%), PF: 14, TP - 63
Blue Earth (28): Hassing 10, Stevermer 5, Pirsig 5, K. Olson 3, Jahnke 3, C. Olson 2. FG: 10-37 (27%, 2-12 3-pters.), FT: 6-12 (50%), PF: 11, TP – 28.
