By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
HENDERSON – The New Richland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball season scored at will in its opening game.
Despite nine minutes of running time and coach John Schultz ordering his team not to shoot at the end of the game, the Panthers romped to a 98-29 victory over Le Sueur-Henderson in Henderson Nov. 27.
The Panthers, coming off a 32-1 season last winter, had defeated LSH 82-25 in 2011.
“Our kids really pushed the ball and cashed in on a lot of transition points,” said Schultz. “I was very happy with our effort tonight.”
NRHEG scored the first 16 points of the game before LSH was able to get on the scoreboard.Carlie “Dagger” Wagner fired in 20 points in the opening half to pace NRHEG to a 57-11 cushion.
Nine of 10 Panther players who played, scored in the game. NRHEG continued the onslaught with a 41-18 scoring margin in the second half.
Carlie Wagner paced the Panther offense with 34 points, including three shots behind the arc. She also dished out 12 assists in the game.
Three other NRHEG players found their way into double digits.
Jade “Jewel” Schultz nailed four three-pointers to finish with 17 points, Maddie “Fire” Wagner came off the bench to score 13 points and Abby Crabtree scored 10 points in a relief role.
Marnie “Ice” Wagner added seven points, one more than Hannah “Badger” Lundberg.
Schultz and Marnie Wagner had five assists each.
NRHEG connected on 57 percent of its 75 shots, including 9-21 behind the arc.
LSH did not have anyone reach double-digits. Steph Winter scored nine points for the Giants, Carlie Brandt tossed in eight points and LeaRae Enerson added seven.
The Giants were held to 8-35 shooting for 23 percent, making 2-12 triples. Le Sueur was 11-17 shooting free throws.
“We showed a lot of hustle tonight and that is what we are looking for,” said Schultz. “We feel like we can go deep into our bench and not fall off much. Our bench scored 32 points tonight.”
NRHEG controlled the boards by a 42-21 margin. Schultz paced the winners with 10 rebounds, Raelin Schue grabbed six boards and Carlie Wagner snared five rebounds.
Schultz had six steals on defense, one more than Paige Overgaard. Schultz and Katie Cole both blocked three shots.
The Panther defense came up with 23 steals in the game.
NRHEG committed 11 miscues, while forcing the Giants into 38 turnovers.
“We were very intense on defense and crashed the boards hard,” said Schultz. “We got a lot of second chance points.”
Grant Berg’s junior varsity rolled to a 53-21 victory in their season opener.
NRHEG 98, LSH 29
NRHEG 57 41 98
LSH 11 18 29
NRHEG (98): C. Wagner 34, Schultz 17, Mad. Wagner 13, Crabtree 10, Mar. Wagner 7, Lundberg 6, Schue 5, Cole 4, Stork 2, Overgaard 0. FG: 43-75 (57%, 9-21 3-pters.) FT: 3-9 (33%), PF: 17, TP-98.
NEXT: Friday - NRHEG at USC (Wells), 7:15 p.m.