By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
ADAMS – The Southland Rebels went on a 23-5 scoring run the final seven minutes of the game to ruin the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys’ basketball team’s upset hopes in the South Sub-Section 2AA opener March 4.
The second-seeded Rebels pulled away to post a 57-33 triumph over the seventh-seeded Panthers.
Coach Pat Churchill’s Panthers lost 11 of their final 13 games to finish the year with a 6-19 record, three wins fewer than last year’s 9-18 mark.
Southland moved into the sub-section semifinals with a 20-7 record.
“It is always tough when you are done for the year,” said Churchill. “I thought for 28 minutes our kids played a heck of a ball game.”
Southland’s defense kept the Panther offense in check the entire night. NRHEG’s 33 points were its lowest output of the season.Other than 6’5” sophomore Kevin Kalis, the Panther production was shut down.
NRHEG hung around for most of the first half, trailing 24-18 at the intermission.
Despite the lack of offense, the Panthers were still down just six points, 34-28, with seven minutes remaining.
But, the Rebels pulled away with a 23-5 burst the rest of the way.
“Southland did a nice job frustrating us on offense,” said Churchill. “Goergen took over and hit shot after shot down the stretch.”
Michael Goergen paced Southland with 21 points, Sam Klaehn chipped in with 10 and Nick Schmitz and Decker Bendsten added nine points apiece.
Kalis was the lone Panther in double digits, flipping in 14 points. Nic Mangskau added seven points for NRHEG.
Kalis completed his double-double by yanking down 13 rebounds for the Panthers.
“I thought our kids gave everything they had tonight,” said Churchill.
NRHEG returns everyone except Mangskau and John White next season.
Southland 57, NRHEG 33
NRHEG 18 15 33
Southland 24 33 57
NRHEG (33): Kalis 14, Mangskau 7, Baker 4, Tracy 3, Schwierjohan 3, Tollefson 2.
Southland (57): Goergen 21, Klaehn 10, Schmitz 9, Bendsten 9, Wolff 4, Alex Ruechel 2, Schwartz 2.