Panthers claim Gopher crown, improve overall record to 22-0
CATCH US IF YOU CAN — Carlie Wagner leads the fast break at Janesville last Friday during the Panthers’ 80-33 victory. Also pictured are the Panthers’ Katie Cole (14) and Tori Raimann (11). (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
The games weren’t exactly thrillers, but some excitement came out of it for the NRHEG girls’ basketball team.
The Panthers, in the midst of one of their best seasons ever, clinched the Gopher Conference championship outright last week by hammering JWP 80-33 on Friday and blowing out Blooming Prairie 63-30 on Tuesday.
The Panthers improved to 13-0 in the conference, four games ahead of second-place USC with three games to play. NRHEG is 22-0 overall and rated No. 2 in the state in Class 2A.
The outcome of neither game was in doubt, especially at Janesville where the Panthers led 50-17 at the intermission.
As it has been all season, rebounding was key for NRHEG.
“I was very impressed with our rebound totals, 60-24,” said coach John Schultz. “That tells me we were hustling.”
Balanced scoring was another plus, as was unselfishness.“It was nice to see four of our kids in double figures,” said Schultz. “I also like seeing 21 assists for our team, very unselfish. One goal of ours was to keep Sam Gruis from getting the one point she needed to get her 1,000th point. She first scored with four minutes left in the first half.”
Individually for NRHEG: Carlie Wagner 22 points, seven assists, six steals; Jade Schultz 20 points, 10 rebounds; Anna Schlaak 12 points, 12 rebounds; Maddie Wagner 10 points; Marnie Wagner four points; Katie Cole four points; Raelin Schue two points, five rebounds; Danielle Krueger two points, eight rebounds; Tori Raimann two points; Abby Crabtree two points.
Gruis led JWP with 10 points.
NRHEG’s B-squad rolled 59-29.
At home against Blooming Prairie, the Panthers held the Blossoms to 12 first-half points while winning handily.
“One of our goals was to stop Hagen and we held her four points,” said Coach Schultz. “Another goal was to defend all their perimeter shots and we did that well. The other goal was to defend aggressively and push the ball and that happened as well. Our girls are playing their roles very well and it’s nice to see everyone scoring on the floor. Our pressure and fast break worked well for us. I was very happy about winning the battle of the boards 49-28. That tells me we are getting after it.”
Individually: Carlie Wagner 29 points, six assists; Cole nine points, five rebounds; Schue eight points; Raimann five points; Schultz five points, seven rebounds, three steals; Crabtree three points, five rebounds; Schlaak two points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, seven steals; Hannah Lundberg two points.
The NRHEG B squad won 72-34.
The Panthers host WEM in a Gopher Conference grudge match Friday, Feb. 10. They entertain Medford Feb. 14 and travel to Randolph Feb. 16.
Gopher Conference standings
NRHEG 13-0
Blooming Prairie 9-4
United South Central 9-4
WEM 8-5
Bethlehem Academy 7-5
Mankato Loyola 5-8
Medford 5-9
Randolph 1-11
JWP 1-12