Panthers vanquish Vikings in sub-section semis
ROUGH AND TUMBLE ACTION — Katie Cole of the NRHEG girls' basketball team (14) battles for the ball with Hayfield's Abby Blanchard during a tough sub-section semifinal in front of a packed house in New Richland Friday night. The Panthers won 45-32, improving their record to 28-0. They'll next face Blue Earth Area Monday, March 5 at 7:45 p.m. at Minnesota State Mankato for the sub-section title. If they win Monday, they play for the Section 2AA championship and a state tournament berth Friday, March 9 at 8 p.m. at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. (Star Eagle photo by Jim Lutgens)
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
No one ever said getting to the state tournament was easy.
That’s why they call it the big show.
The top-seeded, undefeated NRHEG girls’ basketball team took another step in that direction Friday night, surviving a tough challenge from No. 4 seed Hayfield before emerging with a 45-32 sub-section semifinal victory in New Richland.
The Panthers, 28-0 and rated No. 2 in the state in Class AA, advanced to Monday’s sub-section final against No. 2 seed Blue Earth Area at 7:45 p.m. at Minnesota State, Mankato. If they win Monday, they Panthers play Friday at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter for the Section 2AA title and a state tournament berth.
NRHEG coach John Schultz said the pace of the Hayfield game was not a surprise. The Vikings slowed it as much as possible in an attempt to take the Panthers out of their game. And for most of the night it worked. Hayfield led 16-15 at halftime and it was close until the final minutes when the Panthers finally pulled away and put it away with free throws.
“We knew it would be this kind of game,” said Schultz. “Hayfield is a very well coached, disciplined team. They did a nice job on Carlie Wagner, basically double-teaming her. Anna Schlaak really carried us offensively and on the boards, the best she has ever played. She always shows up in the big games.”
Schlaak, a senior, stepped up and led the Panthers with 21 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and three blocked shots. Wagner had 15 points and four assists.
Others: Jade Schultz four points, six rebounds, two blocks; Hannah Lundberg three points; Tori Raimann two points.
The Panthers were 0-for-13 on three-point baskets.
“That hurt us,” said Coach Schultz. “We need to hit those to go offensively.”
Outrebounded in the first half, the Panthers controlled the boards in the second period to finish with a 28-19 advantage. NRHEG had five turnovers, Hayfield 14.