NRHEG girls hit 80 points twice
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
The defending state champs had no problems with scoring points in the first week of its season.
The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball team reached the 80-point mark twice as it opened its season with a pair of wins.
Coming off consecutive 32-1 seasons, the Panthers crushed United South Central last Thursday.
NRHEG throttled Mt. Iron-Buhl at the Breakdown Tip-Off Classic in Hopkins Saturday.
“I was proud of our effort in both games. We played with excitement and hustle,” said NRHEG coach John Schultz.
USCNEW RICHLAND – NRHEG got off to a 20-2 start and just kept rolling in an 80-19 victory in New Richland.
“We really thrived with our fast break. All three Wagners scored a lot of points on the break” said Schultz. “I was happy that most of the time we were in the right spot defensively.”
The Panthers bolted to a 52-12 lead at the half. They fired 70 shots from the floor, making half of them.
Carlie Wagner nailed 17 of 27 shots from the floor to fire in 38 points. She also dished out seven assists. Maddie Wagner scored 13 points and handed out three assists, while Maddie Wagner chipped in with 10 points and six assists.
Jade Schultz hit a pair of triples in scoring eight points, and Hannah Lundberg passed out four assists.
Tara Bauman led the Rebels with seven points.
Carlie Wagner and Ryann Hagen led NRHEG with six rebounds each.
Lundberg had six steals, Carlie Wagner five, Maddie Wagner four.
NRHEG turned the ball over just six times.
Mt. Iron-Buhl
HOPKINS – The Panthers had no problems with an early season test, blasting Mt. Iron-Buhl 81-67 at the Hopkins Breakdown Classic Saturday. The Rangers were ranked second in the state in Class A.
NRHEG used its explosive fast break and its physical play to jump to a 48-28 halftime cushion.
The Panthers stretched the lead to 30 points with five minutes remaining before a bevy of three-pointers by the Rangers narrowed the gap.
“We were more physical than them, and we got a lot of transition points,” said Schultz. “Our kids played hard and played well defensively except at the end.”
Carlie Wagner poured in 40 points. She hit a pair of treys in knocking down 17 of 36 shots.
Schultz and Marnie Wagner tossed in 11 points apiece. Maddie Wagner added eight points.
Chelsea Mason poured in 29 points for the Rangers.
NRHEG held a 44 to 24 advantage on the boards, including 23-10 on the offensive end.
Schultz completed a triple-double with 12 rebounds and 11 assists. Carlie Wagner had nine rebounds, eight assists and nine steals. Lundberg snared eight rebounds, Marnie Wagner seven and Overgaard five.
Maddie Wagner had six steals.
Mt. Iron was guilty of 29 turnovers, 12 more than the Panthers.
NRHEG traveled to Waseca for a non-conference game Tuesday.
The Panthers head to Faribault to tangle with Bethlehem Academy Friday.
NRHEG 80, USC 19
USC 12 7 19
NRHEG 52 28 80
NRHEG (80): C. Wagner 38, Mad. Wagner 13, Mar. Wagner 10, Schultz 8, Overgaard 4, Hagen 3, Stork 2, Harrington 2, Lundberg 0, Peterson 0, Camerer 0. FG: 35-70 (4-13 3s, 50%), FT: 6-14 (43%), PF: 26, TP-80.
NRHEG 81, Mt. Iron 67
NRHEG 48 33 81
Mt. Iron 28 39 67
NRHEG (81): C. Wagner 40, Schultz 11, Mar. Wagner 11, Mad. Wagner 8, Overgaard 5, Lundberg 4, Stork 2, Hagen 0, Harrington 0. FG: 30-76 (39%, 4-18 4-pters.), FT: 17-28 (61%), PF: 26 (Marnie Wagner out), TP-81.
NEXT: Friday – NRHEG at Faribault BA, 7:15 p.m.