By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
The state’s top-ranked Class AA team has shown no dents in the armor yet.
The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball team humbled a pair of opponents last week.
The Panthers buried Waseca on its home court last Tuesday.
NRHEG pounded Gopher Conference foe Faribault B.A. into submission Friday.
The two wins lifted the Panthers to 2-0 in the conference and 4-0 for the year.
Waseca
WASECA – NRHEG coasted to a 47-18 halftime lead in blasting the Bluejays 70-31 in Waseca Dec. 10. Waseca fell to 1-3 with the loss.
NRHEG did not have a good shooting night, but dominated the boards to make things easy at Waseca.The Panthers shot just 32 percent from the floor, but fired up 77 shots, compared to just 33 shots for the Bluejays.
NRHEG was 7-28 behind the arc and 13-14 from the free throw line.
Carlie Wagner hit a pair of threes on her way to a 32-point night. She also dished out 10 assists.
Jade “the Jewel” Schultz backed Wagner with 15 points, including two triples. She had five assists.
Marnie Wagner added seven points and four assists, and Anna Stork chipped in with six points.
Waseca made 1-5 behind the arc and 8-14 free throws.
Freshman Breanna Karsten topped the Bluejay scoring with nine points. Mikayla Rolling chipped in with seven points, one more than Kirstin Simmons.
NRHEG finished with a 41-20 rebounding advantage. The Panthers held a 25-4 margin on offense.
Marnie Wagner topped NRHEG with nine rebounds. Schultz, Paige Overgaard and Maddie Wagner grabbed seven boards apiece, one more than Stork.
Carlie Wagner had six steals to lead the NRHEG ball-hawking defense. Overgaard had four steals and Schultz came up with three.
Waseca was guilty of 19 turnovers, four more than NRHEG.
“Our work on the boards made up for a poor shooting night,” said NRHEG coach John Schultz. “It was a nice team win for us.”
Grant Berg’s NRHEG junior varsity captured a 39-29 win.
FBA
FARIBAULT – NRHEG allowed Faribault BA just three field goals in the game and blasted the Cardinals 83-16 at Faribault Friday.
FBA, which lost 70-53 and 72-59 to the Panthers last season, fell to 0-2 in the conference and 0-4 for the year.
NRHEG walked off the court with a 52-8 advantage at the intermission and outscored the Cards 31-10 in the final half.
“I was proud of our efforts tonight,” said Schultz. “The kids continue to do the small things right.”
NRHEG fired up 86 shots, connecting on 43 percent. The Panthers were 4-12 behind the arc and 5-9 from the foul stripe.
FBA could connect on just 3-33 (10%) of its shots from the floor. The Cards missed all seven of their three-pointers and converted 10-17 gift tosses.
Carlie “the Dagger” Wagner led the winners with 29 points, including two triples. It was the first time this season she scored less than 30 points.
Jade Schultz and Marnie Wagner finished with 11 points apiece; Overgaard tossed in 10 and Maddie Wagner added six.
Maddie Wagner dished out seven assists for the Panthers, with Schultz, Carlie Wagner and Marnie Wagner handing out five apiece.
Karen Skluzacek scored nine of FBA’s 16 points.
NRHEG dominated the backboards, winning 45-15. The Panthers had 30 offensive boards.
Schultz, Maddie Wagner and Kayley Camerer led NRHEG with six rebounds apiece. Kelli Harrington and Ryann Hagen nabbed five boards apiece.
NRHEG had 21 steals in the game, led by Carlie Wagner and Marnie Wagner with five apiece.
The Panther defense forced FBA into 33 turnovers, while committing 13 of their own.
“It was fun to get everyone into the game and see 10 of 11 kids score,” said Schultz. “The rebound totals show that we were working hard and our defense was clicking.”
The junior varsity also remained undefeated with a 67-17 win.
The Panthers are at home against Maple River Friday.