Schultz tops 1,000 points as NRHEG runs win streak to 14
BATTLE FOR THE BALL — The Panthers’ Katie Cole, right, fights for a loose ball against a USC player last Friday. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
NEW RICHLAND – The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball team remained perfect in the Gopher Conference while stretching its win streak to 14 straight games in a 68-39 triumph over United South Central in New Richland Friday.
The Rebels, who are fourth in the Gopher with a 4-4 mark, dropped to 8-8 overall.
NRHEG, the No. 2 ranked team in Class 2A, climbed to 8-0 in the conference and 16-1 for the year.
The Panthers, who blasted USC 76-32 in the first meeting, are 5-0 on their home court this season.
Carlie “Dagger” Wagner and Jade “Jewel” Schultz got the Panther cagers off to an early lead which they never lost.
Wagner nailed three triples and scored 18 first-half points. Schultz drilled a pair of treys and scored 10 points in the first half as NRHEG led 36-19 at the break.The second three-pointer by Schultz put her into the elite category of a 1,000-point career scorer.
Only three USC players scored in the first half. Amanda Allis, a 6’2” senior, flipped in seven points and Taylor Schultz and Tara Bauman added six points apiece.
Wagner and Schultz continued to outscore the Rebels in the second half.
Wagner pumped in another quick 12 points, one more than Schultz, as the Panthers outscored the visitors 32-20 in the second half.
“Our team defense was very tenacious at times. It created a lot of problems for USC,” said NRHEG coach John Schultz. “Our defense led us to a lot of fast-break points.”
Wagner finished the game with 30 points and six assists. She nailed three triples and was 3-4 from the foul line.
Schultz pumped in 21 points. She drilled three treys and knocked down both of her free throws.
Maddie Wagner and Marnie Wagner contributed six points apiece.
NRHEG had six three-pointers and went 8-15 from the foul line.
Starting forward Raelin Schue suffered a knee injury in the first half and did not return to action.
Allis, Schultz and Bauman scored all but six of the USC points. Allis finished with 13 points, Schultz pumped in 11 and Bauman chipped in with nine points.
The Rebels connected on two shots behind the arc and went 7-14 from the charity stripe.
Paige Overgaard did not score a point, but led the Panthers with 10 rebounds, came up with four steals, and played solid post defense on Allis.
Schultz snared seven rebounds for NRHEG.
NRHEG finished the game with a 30 to 23 advantage in rebounds.
Carlie Wagner had six steals on defense and Maddie Wagner had four thefts. The Panthers had 17 steals in the game.
USC was forced into 25 turnovers compared to 11 miscues for the Panthers.
“Carlie had a solid overall game and I was very happy with the effort we got from Paige,” said Schultz. “There was a lot of good team play tonight.”
Coach Grant Berg’s junior varsity team won 35-29, raising its record to 14-0.
NRHEG battles Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton at home Friday. The Panthers won the first meeting 90-27.
Medford, a 79-17 loser to NRHEG earlier this year, comes to town Tuesday.
NRHEG 68, USC 39
USC 19 20 39
NRHEG 36 32 68
NRHEG (68): C. Wagner 30, Schultz 21, Mad. Wagner 6, Mar. Wagner 6, Lundberg 2, Crabtree 2, Stork 1, Cole 0, Schue 0, Overgaard 0. FG: 21 2-pters., 6 3-pters., FT-8-15 (53%), PF-13, TP-68.
USC (39): A. Allis 13, Schultz 11, Bauman 9, Janzig 4, Steckelberg 2, Eilertson 0, Klocek 0, Mandler 0, Robertson 0, L. Allis 0. FG: 13 2-pters., 2 3-pters., FT-7-14 (50%), PF-10, TP-39.
NEXT: Friday – JWP at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.