SHOOT FOR TWO — The Panthers’ Nic Mangskau goes up for a shot against WEM in New Richland last week. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
Carrying a two-game winning streak into the week, the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys’ basketball team ended the week on a three-game skid.
The Panthers suffered a non-conference loss to St. Clair, and then dropped Gopher Conference setbacks to Waterville-Elysian-Morristown and Blooming Prairie.
St. Clair
ST. CLAIR – NRHEG played its best defense of the season in the first half at St. Clair Jan. 14. St. Clair was much more aggressive in the second half and overcame a halftime deficit to capture a 72-65 win.
The Cyclones, who defeated NRHEG by eight points in the Mankato Bethany Tourney, improved to 9-4 this season.
NRHEG had an excellent defensive first half in taking a 26-23 lead at the break. Kevin Kalis and Spencer Tollefson scored eight points apiece for the Panthers.“Defensively, the first half was our best half of basketball this year,” said NRHEG coach Pat Churchill. “We kept them out of the lane, forced them to take outside shots and controlled the glass.”
St. Clair was able to speed up the game in the second half and outscored NRHEG 49-39.
“That’s way too many points in a half,” said Churchill. “SC got very aggressive and took us out of our defensive philosophy.”
After committing just two fouls the entire first half, the Panthers were whistled for 15 in the second half. St. Clair took advantage, drilling 23-29 free throws.
Kalis and Tollefson led the Panthers with 19 points apiece. Preston Peterson popped in 10 points off the bench, one more than Nic Mangskau.
Ryan Kruse poured in 26 points for St. Clair, Phillip Lonnkman 19.
Kalis had a double-double with 12 rebounds, Tollefson grabbed seven boards and Mangskau cornered four caroms.
“We played hard and we competed, but we just fouled too much in the second half,” said Churchill.
The NRHEG junior varsity captured a 48-34 win over St. Clair.
WEM
NEW RICHLAND – The WEM defense was the difference as the Bucs won a 59-46 contest over NRHEG in New Richland Jan. 15.
The Buccaneers evened their conference record at 2-2 and improved to 7-5 overall. WEM held the Panthers in the 40s in both wins a year ago, and did it again Tuesday.
WEM was clinging to a two point lead after seven minutes. A 12-0 run by WEM proved to be the difference the rest of the night.
The Bucs left the floor with a 33-17 cushion at the intermission.
“We had a three-minute stretch where we struggled with their pressure. We gave them three straight layups off of our turnovers and were reeling,” said Churchill. “That little stretch was huge because our half-court defense was good.”
NRHEG held the Bucs scoreless for the first six minutes of the second half, pulling within 33-29.
WEM refused to fold, built the lead back to seven points and the Panthers could get no closer. NRHEG outscored WEM 29-26 in the final half.
“We did a great job handling their pressure and getting stops on defense to start the second half,” said Churchill. “I know we are improving, but we have to figure out what it takes to get some wins.”
Tollefson and Trevor Tracy sparked NRHEG’s attack with 14 points apiece. Tollefson scored all of his points in the second half. Mangskau flipped in seven points and Kalis added six.
Tucker Kinniry scored 19 points for WEM, Landon Harmon fired in 14 and Nolan Grose contributed 12.
Kalis yanked down eight rebounds and Tollefson grabbed five boards for the Panthers.
NRHEG edged the Bucs 42-41 in the junior varsity game.
Blooming Prairie
NEW RICHLAND – The dynamic duo of Michael Thomas and John Rumpza were more than the NRHEG defense could handle at home Friday.
The two Blossoms combined for 49 points, leading BP to a 68-50 triumph over the Panthers.
Blooming Prairie took over second place in the Gopher Conference with a 4-1 mark, and raised its season record to 7-5.
The game was over by halftime. The Blossoms built a 41-18 margin, sparked by 20 points from Thomas.
NRHEG outscored the Blossoms 32-27 in the second half.
“It was a frustrating night for the Panthers,” said Churchill. “We feel like we are improving but we have yet to play a good game against a good team.”
Tollefson and Tracy scored 12 points apiece for NRHEG. Tracy had 10 of his points in the second half.
Kalis scored six points, with Mangskau and Noah Krell chipping in five apiece.
Thomas ended up with 28 points for the Blossoms, and Rumpza threw in another 21.
“These are two of the best players in the conference and they played like it tonight. They were dominating,” said Churchill. “They did anything they wanted to do. We had no answer for them tonight.”
The NRHEG junior varsity won a 55-53 overtime decision to improve to 11-4 for the year.
The Panthers journey to Wells to tangle with USC Friday, the first place team in the Gopher.
St. Clair 72, NRHEG 65
NRHEG 26 39 65
St. Clair 23 49 72
NRHEG (65): Tollefson 19, Kalis 19, Peterson 10, Mangskau 9, Tracy 4, Schwierjohann 4.
WEM 59, NRHEG 46
WEM 33 26 59
NRHEG 17 29 46
NRHEG (46): Tollefson 14, Tracy 14, Mangskau 7, Kalis 6, Peterson 3, Schendel 2.
BP 68, NRHEG 50
BP 41 27 68
NRHEG 18 32 50
NRHEG (50): Tollefson 12, Tracy 12, Kalis 8, Mangskau 5, Krell 5, Schendel 4, Schwierjohann 2, Goette 2.
NEXT: Friday – NRHEG at USC (Wells), 7:15 p.m.