Nothing can stop NRHEG in thrilling state tourney
WE WIN! — NRHEG girls’ basketball players and fans erupt after the final buzzer in Saturday’s unforgettable 60-59 triumph over Braham for the Class AA state championship at Target Center in Minneapolis. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
MINNEAPOLIS – The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball team overcame some incredible odds to win its first state championship last week. It was the third time and second straight state tourney appearance for the Panthers.
NRHEG had to overcome the loss of two starters, plus three average shooting nights, to win three consecutive games and close out a second straight outstanding season with a Class AA title.
Leading the charge, as usual, was the stellar play of junior Carlie Wagner. “The Dagger” averaged 43 points per game at the tourney, breaking last year’s record scoring pace of 112 points by 17 points this season. She also set five other state tournament marks.
The Panthers had to do it without Raelin Schue, who missed the last half of the season, and Jade Schultz, who suffered a knee injury just four minutes into the semifinal game against Washburn.But, nothing could stop NRHEG, which defeated Pelican Rapids, Minneapolis Washburn and undefeated Braham to bring home the top prize.
Pelican Rapids
Section 8AA champ Pelican Rapids brought a six-game winning streak and a 21-7 record into the tournament. NRHEG broke a 25-25 halftime deadlock to eliminate the Vikings 62-49 at Williams Arena Wednesday evening.
NRHEG went scoreless for over three minutes before Maddie Wagner got the Panthers on the board. NRHEG took its first lead at the 10-minute mark and held a couple of five point leads after that.
A basket by PR’s Kendra Weinrich at the buzzer left the two teams tied at the break.
The Panthers scored the first six points of the second half, but could not shake the pesky Vikings.
An 8-0 run at the 4-minute mark stretched the Panther lead to 16 points.
NRHEG shot 34 percent from the floor, making 3-17 three-pointers. The Panthers dropped 13-23 free throws.
Carlie Wagner fired in 31 points, making 7-11 free throws. She also handed out four assists.
Eighth-grader Maddie “Fire” Wagner sparked the Panthers off the bench, tossing in 12 points.
Schultz, who had two of the three NRHEG triples, finished with 11 points.
Pelican Rapids shot 37 percent for the game, hitting 8-20 behind the arc. The Vikings hit 9-13 from the foul line.
Freshman Mackenzie Korf buried three treys on her way to a 17-point night, 13 coming in the final half. She handed out six assists in the game.
Sommer Haugrud chipped in with nine points.
NRHEG finished the game with a 42-38 advantage on the boards, including 25-13 on the offensive end.
Paige Overgaard ripped down 11 rebounds, Maddie Wagner speared nine boards, Schultz grabbed eight caroms and Carlie Wagner snared seven rebounds.
Korf, Alyssa Huseby and Lincoln Haiby had seven rebounds apiece for the Vikings.
The Panthers had 19 steals in the game, including six by Schultz and four by Carlie Wagner.
NRHEG scored 22 points off 27 Viking turnovers. The Panthers turned the ball over 10 times.
“We knew we would go on a run sometime during the game,” said Carlie Wagner. “We just thought it would come a lot sooner.”
“I think we finally wore them down in the second half,” said NRHRG coach John Schultz. “I felt we were physically stronger than them at the end of the game.”
Washburn
Minneapolis Washburn brought a 23-7 record and an opening round win over Sauk Centre to Friday’s semifinal game at the Target Center.
The Millers, who were making their first state tourney appearance since 1984, got off to a good start with early leads of 10-4 and 13-6. Katie Cole’s three-pointer with 3:56 left in the half gave NRHEG its first lead at 24-22. Carlie Wagner scored the final eight points of the half to send the Panthers to the locker room holding a 32-29 lead.
NRHEG stretched its lead to 50-39 with 9:30 remaining in the game before the Millers figured out it might be a good idea to put 6’ 3” Chase Coley down low. She scored 13 points in the final seven minutes of the game, but the Panthers would not give up their lead.
NRHEG made 3-13 three-pointers on the way to a 34 percent shooting night. The Panthers hit 24 of 38 free throws.
Washburn could connect on just 27 percent of its shots from the floor, and was 1-24 behind the arc. The Millers nailed 27 of 35 gift tosses.
Carlie Wagner poured in 48 points, hitting 17-21 free throws. Overgaard contributed seven points.
Washburn had three players in double digits. Natalie Holdahl led the way 1ith 17 points, one more than Coley. Megan Lucas flipped in 14 points.
Both teams had 49 rebounds, including 20 offensive boards.
Wagner completed her double with 13 rebounds for the Panthers, Hannah Lundberg ripped down 11 boards and Cole and Maddie Wagner snared six rebounds apiece.
Coley, who led the state in rebounds and blocked shots, yanked down 19 rebounds swatted away five Panther shots.
Carlie Wagner had four steals for NRHEG.
The Panthers were guilty of 25 turnovers in the game, 16 by Carlie Wagner. Washburn turned the ball over 22 times.
“I thought our defense was fabulous the first half. We never expected to completely shut off Coley,” said Coach Schultz. “She started to take charge in the second half. But, despite all our foul problems, we had enough left at the end of the game to win. We are without two starters, but these girls refuse to lose. To see some of our young players step up and contribute in this atmosphere is really satisfying.”
Braham
Braham entered the Saturday afternoon’s championship game with a 32-0 record and still smarting from last year’s opening round defeat to NRHEG.
The Panthers got off to a 17-7 lead and appeared ready to turn the game into a rout.
Braham’s high scoring Rebekah Dahlman, who had scored over 5,000 points in her career and was averaging over 35 points a game this season, picked up her third personal foul with 7:26 remaining in the first half. She sat out the remainder of the half and scored just two points in the half.
NRHEG settled for a 27-15 lead at the break but it could have been much worse. The Panthers made just 1-10 three-pointers and shot only 31 percent from the floor. Carlie Wagner scored 19 of NRHEG’s 27 points.
NRHEG’s 12-point halftime lead was cut to three points just four minutes into the second half.
Dahlman heated up quickly and led the Bombers to a 42-41 lead when she nailed a three-pointer with 7:23 remaining.
Wagner scored 17 straight points for the Panthers, lifting them to a 58-55 advantage with 1:34 left.
Dahlman cut the margin to one point with a layup, but was whistled for her fifth foul with 37 seconds remaining after scoring 30 second half points.
Kayla Nickles got free for a layup with 26 second remaining to tie the game 59-59.
NRHEG held for the final shot and Carlie Wagner was fouled on a drive to the basket with six seconds remaining. She made the first but missed the second, giving Braham one final chance. Carlie Wagner intercepted a desperation pass at mid-court and dribbled the clock out.
NRHEG shot 37 percent from the field, making 2-14 behind the arc and 8-16 free throws.
Carlie Wagner broke her own single game scoring record by scoring 50 points for the Panthers. She was 21-43 from the floor and 6-9 from the foul line.
No one else had four points for NRHEG, and only four players scored.
The Bombers finished with a 35 percent shooting night, making 2-15 threes and 14-22 free throws.
Dahlman was 11-13 from the foul stripe in her 32-point, four assist night. Minnesota’s all-time leading scorer is headed to Vanderbilt next season.
Nickles chipped in with 12 points for Braham.
NRHEG won the rebounding battle by a 50-40 margin, including 17-10 on the offensive end.
Wagner and Overgaard both ripped down 12 rebounds, with Maddie Wagner grabbing six more.
Dani Braund led Braham with nine boards, one more than Dahlman and Nickles.
The Bombers scored 22 points off 26 NRHEG turnovers. The Panthers got 19 points off 25 Braham miscues.
“We knew we had to control Dahlman and keep Kayla Nickles from getting free on the outside,” said Schultz. “We did a great job the first half, but Dahlman is so talented, you can’t expect to control her the entire game.”
Carlie Wagner and Maddie Wagner were named to the 10-person All-Tournament team.
NRHEG completed its second straight 32-1 season. The Panthers will take a 30-game winning streak into next season.
Raelin Schue, Katie Cole and Abby Crabtree are the lone seniors on the team.
“I don’t know what you can say about Carlie. She was just fantastic,” said Coach Schultz. “She put us on her shoulders and refused to let us lose. I’m so proud of these girls. The effort they gave all season long was just outstanding. It’s always great to be rewarded for working so hard. This crew deserves this.”
NRHEG 62, Pelican R. 49
(State Quarterfinals)
NRHEG 25 37 62
PR 25 24 49
NRHEG (62): C. Wagner 31, Mad. Wagner 12, Schultz 11, Overgaard 3, Lundberg 2, Mar. Wagner 2, Cole 1, Crabtree 0, Stork 0, Hagen 0, Harrington 0. FG – 23-67 (34%, 3-17 3-pters.), FT – 13-23 (57%), PF – 15, TP – 62.
Pelican Rapids (49): Mack. Korf 17, Haugrud 9, Mad. Korf 6, Haiby 6, Huseby 6, Weinrich 4, Spicer 1, Pfeifle 0. FG – 16-43 (37%, 8-20 3-pters.), FT – 9-13 (69%), PF – 14, TP – 49.
NRHEG 69, Washburn 60
(State Semifinals)
NRHEG 32 37 69
Washburn 29 31 60
NRHEG (69): C. Wagner 48, Overgaard 7, Lundberg 5, Cole 4, Mar. Wagner 3, Mad. Wagner 2, Schultz 0, Crabtree 0. FG – 21-62 (34%, 3-13 3-pters.), FT – 24-38 (63%), PF – 26 (Mad. Wagner out), TP – 69
Washburn (60): Holdahl 17, Coley 16, Lucas 14, DeVaughn 6, Renikoff 6, Zellner-Smith 1, Riley 0, Downing 0, Peterson 0, Bolden 0, Patterson 0, Riley 0, Strabala 0, Wilson 0. FG – 16-60 (27%, 1-24 3-pters.), FT – 27-35 (77%), PF – 26 (Lucas, Holdahl, DeVaughn out), TP – 60
NRHEG 60, Braham 59
(State championship)
NRHEG 27 33 60
Braham 15 44 59
NRHEG (60): C. Wagner 50, Mad. Wagner 4, Mar. Wagner 4, Cole 2, Lundberg 0, Overgaard 0, Crabtree 0. FG – 25-67 (37%, 2-14 3-pters.), FT – 8-16 (50%), PF – 22 (MAD. Wagner out), TP – 60.
Braham (59): Dahlman 32, Nickles 12, Braund 9, Hollenkamp 6, Winter 0, Bendickson 0, Bacon 0. FG – 21-6 (35%, 3-15 3-pters.), FT – 14-22 (64%), PF – 20 (Dahlman out), TP – 59.