EXCUSE PLEASE — NRHEG’s Nic Mangskau grabs a rebound between Randolph defenders during the Panthers’ 64-20 victory last Friday. (Star Eagle photos by Chris Schlaak)
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
The NRHEG boys’ basketball team could be getting hot at the right time.
The Panthers, who have lost numerous closes contests this season, made it three of four wins by sinking Medford 60-52 last Tuesday and rocking Randolph 64-20 on Friday.
The Panthers improved to 9-16 overall and finished 6-10 in the Gopher Conference.
Coach Pat Churchill called the game at Medford hard fought.
“We did some very nice things,” he said. “We moved the ball well against their zone and got some great looks. Against their man we ran our motion and got some very good shots.”
The Panthers led 34-26 at halftime.Medford clawed their way within a point in the second half, but NRHEG got some big shots, including a Lucas Meyer layup and a great pass to Nic Mangskau. Meyer hit some free throws down the stretch to seal it.
Individually for NRHEG: Matt Carlson 22 points, four steals; Sam Lundberg eight points, five rebounds, four assists; Spencer Hanna eight points; Mangskau seven points; Tyler Sorenson seven points, nine rebounds; Carter Tollefson four points, five rebounds, four assists; Meyer four points.
The Panthers hosted Randolph Friday for Senior Night and cruised after leading 40-10 at halftime. NRHEG controlled the game from start to finish.
“We had seven seniors (Matt Carlson, Tyler Sorenson, Carter Tollefson, Spencer Hanna, Lucas Meyer, Sam Lundberg and Pete Blowers) who played their last home regular season game,” said Churchill. “It was nice for seniors to go out like that. We have had so many close games where we have come up on the short end of the stick. It was nice to have a good win on Senior Night.
Individually: Carlson 17 points; Sorenson 16 points, six rebounds; Lundberg 11 points, five rebounds, five assists; Tollefson eight points, five rebounds; Mangskau seven points; Pete Blowers two points; Meyer two points; T.J. Schiltz one point.
The Panthers open sub-section tournament play Tuesday, March 6.