NRHEG girls tame Tigers, vanquish Vikings while improving to 10-1 overall
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball team stretched its win streak to eight straight with a pair of victories last week.
The Panthers pounded Medford to remain perfect in Gopher Conference play.
NRHEG defeated a solid Hayfield squad on the road Saturday. The Vikings are one of the better section teams with NRHEG.
The Panthers are 4-0 in the conference and 10-1 overall. NRHEG has won both of its home games and is 8-1 on the road.
Medford
MEDFORD – NRHEG poured in 10 three-pointers to make things easy in a 79-17 victory over Medford at Medford Friday.
The Panthers defeated Medford 90-22 and 67-35 last season.
NRHEG won its fourth straight conference game. Medford slipped to 1-3 in the Gopher and 4-6 overall.
NRHEG had no trouble putting the game away. The Panthers scored the first 14 points of the game and knocked down nine triples in the first half to take a 52-8 margin at the break.“We came out shooting well,” said NRHEG coach John Schultz. “Our pressure on top took them out of their rhythm and led to a lot of easy transition baskets.”
Despite the starters playing sparingly, NRHEG outscored Medford 27-9 in the second half.
“We moved the ball well offensively and controlled the boards,” said Schultz. “Our defense did not allow a lot of shots to be taken.”
The Panthers shot 42 percent from the floor, firing up 74 shots. NRHEG hit 10-28 three-pointers and 7-15 free throws.
Four players reached double digits for the winners. Carlie Wagner fired in 25 points, 19 the first half, Hannah Lundberg hustled her way to 13 points, Jade Schultz contributed 12 points and Maddie Wagner chipped in with 11 points. Carlie Wagner, Schultz and Maddie Wagner all had a pair of triples.
Carlie Wagner dished out five assists, one more than Marnie Wagner.
Medford got off just 32 shots, converting 16 percent. The Tigers were 0-11 from behind the arc and 7-14 from the foul strip.
Nicole Morgan, who was averaging 20 points per game, led the Tigers with six points.
NRHEG held a huge 39-16 margin in rebounds, including 23-2 on the offensive boards.
Carlie Wagner grabbed nine rebounds, Katie Cole snared eight boards and Paige Overgaard pulled down five caroms.
Carlie Wagner also had five steals and five blocks in the game.
NRHEG was guilty of eight turnovers, but forced the Tigers into 26 miscues.
The Panther JV defeated Medford 41-14.
Hayfield
HAYFIELD – Despite some foul problems and a cold shooting day, NRHEG was able to defeat section rival Hayfield 59-47 at Hayfield Saturday.
The Panthers defeated Hayfield 50-40 during the regular season and 45-32 in sub-section play a year ago.
The Vikings dropped to 8-4 for the season.
Hayfield did its best to slow the tempo down, but NRHEG still held a 27-16 advantage at the intermission.
The tempo picked up in the second half with the Panthers holding a 32-31 edge.
“We played some decent defense, and our rebounding was the big factor,” said Schultz. “We took good shots but they were not falling.”
NRHEG shot 33 percent from the field, getting off 57 shots. The Panthers were just 3-21 behind the arc and 18-34 from the free throw line.
Hayfield hit 28 percent from the floor, getting off 50 shots. The Vikings hit 3-20 three-pointers and 16-34 free throws.
Carlie Wagner carried the Panther offense with 33 points
Cole and Maddie Wagner added eight points apiece.
Schultz, who sat in foul trouble much of the first half and finally fouled out in the second half, was held to four points.
Carlie Wagner and Schultz handed out five assists apiece, one more than Lundberg.
Jo Bungum led the Vikings with 15 points and Dani Wagner tossed in 11.
NRHEG controlled the boards 48-31.
Schultz yanked down 13 rebounds for the winners, Maddie Wagner snared seven boards, Lundberg grabbed six caroms and Carlie Wagner corralled five boards. Wagner also had seven steals.
Hayfield was guilty of 24 turnovers, three more than the Panthers.
Grant Berg’s NRHEG junior varsity improved to 8-0 with a 41-37 win over Hayfield.
Randolph comes to town for a conference game Friday.
NRHEG plays at Maple River Monday and at Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Tuesday.
NRHEG 79, Medford 17
NRHEG 52 27 79
Medford 8 9 17
NRHEG (79): C. Wagner 25, Lundberg 13, Schultz 12, Mad. Wagner 11, Mar. Wagner 6, Cole 4, Schue 3, Crabtree 3, Overgaard 2.
FG: 31-74 (42%, 10-28 3-pters.), FT: 7-15 (47@), PF: 11. TP-79.
NRHEG 59, Hayfield 47
NRHEG 27 32 59
Hayfield 16 31 47
NRHEG (59): C. Wagner 33, Cole 8, Mad. Wagner 8, Schultz 4, Lundberg 4, Schue 2, Overgaard 0, Mar. Wagner 0. FG: 19-57 (33%, 3-21 3-pters.), FT: 18-34 (53%), PF: 23 (Schultz out), TP-59.
NEXT: Friday – Randolph at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.