By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
NEW RICHLAND – The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball team continued to score points at will as it raced to its second consecutive win of the season Thursday.
The Panthers overpowered Belle Plaine 80-37 in its home opener. NRHEG won 71-41 last season.
“We were much more physical than they were,” said NRHEG coach John Schultz. “It was not the best shooting night for us, but we made up for it with things we can control like hustle on defense and on the boards.”
NRHEG led the entire game. Carlie Wagner scored 21 first-half points and Jade Schultz added 10 as the Panthers raced to a 41-22 lead at the break.
Claire Otto hit a pair of three-pointers in scoring nine points for the Tigers.NRHEG stretched its lead in the second half, outscoring BP 39-15.
Carlie Wagner scored 11 points in the final half, while younger sister Marnie “Ice” Wagner pumped in 8 points.
Ellie Murphy scored nine second half points for Belle Plaine.
The Panthers connected on 37 percent of their shots from the floor, including only 6-32 three-points. NRHEG drained 22-33 free throws.
Belle Plaine, which took 40 fewer shots, made 3-7 triples on the way to a 35 percent shooting night. The Tigers were 12-25 from the charity stripe.
“Our hustle on defense led to a lot of fast break points,” said Schultz. “Our kids were on the floor all night after loose balls and always had a hand in the passing lanes. The girls played their roles just great.”
Carlie Wagner had her second straight 30-plus night, finishing with 32 points and six assists. She drilled a pair of three-pointers.
Schultz nailed three triples on the way to a 16-point night. She was five of seven from the foul line.
Katie Cole chipped in with 10 points, and Marnie Wagner scored eight points off the bench.
Otto topped Belle Plaine with 14 points, Murphy powered in 10 points and eighth-grader Mariena Hayden added eight.
The Panthers controlled the boards by a 47-26 margin. Schultz snared 10 rebounds for the second straight game, Hannah Lundberg grabbed eight boards, Cole pulled down seven caroms and Schue and Marnie Wagner added six rebounds apiece.
Carlie Wagner came up with six steals, Schultz had four thefts and Cole pilfered three balls.
The NRHEG junior varsity won its second straight game, crushing Belle Plaine by a 51-17 margin.
NRHEG 80, Belle Pl. 37
BP 22 15 37
NRHEG 41 39 80
NRHEG (80): C. Wagner 32, Schultz 16, Cole 10, Mar. Wagner 8, Schue 5, Overgaard 4, Lundberg 2, Stork 2, Mad. Wagner 1, Crabtree 0. FG: 26-71 (37%, 6-32 3 pters.), FT: 22-33 (67%), PF: 20, TP-80.
NEXT: Friday – NRHEG at USC (Wells), 7:15 p.m.