Panthers top Medford, fall to Hayfield
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys’ basketball team remained all alone in first place in the Gopher Conference.
The Panthers picked up a road victory at Medford, followed by a seven-point loss to Hayfield in a battle of once-beaten teams.
Coach Pat Churchill’s Panthers are 4-0 in the conference and 9-2 overall.
MedfordMEDFORD – NRHEG overcame a mediocre first half to post an 82-62 victory at Medford Friday.
“We did not play our best game of the year, but were able to come out with a victory,” said Churchill. “Medford did a nice job of slowing us down and making us play ugly in the first half. We did not play with much energy in the first half and did not play very well.”
Medford fell to 0-4 in the conference and 2-6 overall. The Tigers defeated NRHEG twice last season by 72-58 and 69-45 scores.
The game was close until four minutes remained in the first half. The Panthers then stretched their four-point lead into a 42-26 margin at the break.
“You have to give Medford credit for making us play ugly in the first half,” said Churchill.
NRHEG quickly stretched its lead to 20 points in the second half, and held a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
Trevor Tracy led the Panther scoring with 22 points, hitting four shots behind the arc.
Spencer Tollefson had a double-double for the winners, scoring 21 points and hauling down 11 rebounds.
Freshman Oakley Baker knocked down a pair of triples while scoring 18 points. He also snared eight boards. Ryan Patraw and Bready Beenken scored six points apiece. Kevin Kalis added five points and five rebounds.
Connor Chapple and Ryan Kortz fired in 19 points apiece for Medford.
“We won the game without playing our best tonight and sometimes that is what it takes,” said Churchill.
The Panther junior varsity picked up a 50-39 victory over Medford.
Hayfield
NEW RICHLAND – Hayfield jumped out front early and then hung on for a 73-66 win over the Panthers in New Richland Saturday.
The Vikings, who won 80-39 a year ago, improved to 12-1 this season.
Hayfield jumped to a quick 20-10 lead, executing well offensively and hitting the offensive boards.
The Panthers were looking at a 39-24 deficit at the break. The Vikings had 10 offensive boards in the first half.
“We worked so hard on defense because they execute so well. We would get them to miss a shot, but then they would get an offensive rebound,” said Churchill. “Hayfield also took us out of rhythm on defense.”
The Vikings stretched their lead to 22 points early in the second half before NRHEG started chipping away.
The Panthers cut the deficit to 12 points at the 11-minute mark, and worked it down to a five-point game with five minutes remaining, but could get no closer.
The one-two punch of Baker and Tollefson paced the Panthers with 21 and 19 points respectively.
Kalis kicked in with 14 points, while Tracy added seven.
Tollefson dished out five assists, while Kalis grabbed seven rebounds.
Cole Kruger’s 21 points paced four Vikings in double figures.
Jeremy Stuart fired in 18 points, Drew Streightiff popped in 13 and Merrick Ducharme added 10.
Hayfield won the junior varsity game by a 62-51 score.
NRHEG plays at home against Randolph Friday and St. Clair Monday.
The Panthers hit the road against rival Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Tuesday.