By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
After dropping the first two games, the NRHEG boys’ basketball team is on a bit of a roll.
The Panthers won their fifth game in six starts Friday, traveling to Medford for a 66-38 victory. The Panthers are 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the Gopher Conference.
Medford kept things close in the first half, trailing just 14-9 with eight minutes remaining and 27-18 at halftime.
“I thought Medford was playing with more aggression than we did the first 18 minutes,” said NRHEG coach Pat Churchill. “In the second half I thought we came out a little more aggressive.”
Individually for the Panthers: John Cole 23 points, 11 rebounds; Chad Agrimson 10 points; Benji Lundberg 10 points, Jack Schultz seven points; Tyler Raimann five points; Sam Prigge three points.
Bryce McCarty led Medford with 11.
NRHEG’s junior varsity won 60-42.
The Panthers defeated visiting Tri-City United 57-54 at home Tuesday. NRHEG led 30-25 at halftime, going 5-for-7 on threes in the first half.
“We did some nice things defensively against them in the first half and we didn't allow many offensive rebounds,” said Churchill.
NRHEG pushed the lead to nine points early in the second half but TCU kept chipping away.
“We didn't exactly execute down the stretch, but we were able to hold on for the victory,” said Churchill.
Scoring for NRHEG: Oakley Baker 10, Cole 10, Agrimson 10, Raimann nine, Lundberg eight, Luke Overgaard seven, Dempsey Tucker three.
The Panthers’ JV won 56-38.
