NRHEG girls to face Washburn Saturday at Owatonna
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball team finally had a test … and passed it.
The Panthers, who had not played a game closer than 14 points all season, earned a seven-point victory over second-ranked Kenyon-Wanamingo last Thursday.
It was back to normal one night later as NRHEG crushed Randolph by 45 points on the road.
The Panthers improved to 5-0 in the Gopher Conference and 11-0 for the year. NRHEG, the top-ranked Class AA school in the state, has won 41 straight games over the past two seasons.
Kenyon-WanamingoNEW RICHLAND – A pair of undefeated teams squared off before a packed house in New Richland last Thursday. NRHEG led most of the way in earning a 67-60 victory.
It was the first loss for Kenyon in 10 games.
“Kenyon deserves its #2 ranking. The outrebounded us and had fewer turnover than us,” said NRHEG coach John Schultz. “We had to do things differently tonight, but the kids got it done and gutted it out.”
NRHEG led 29-20 at the intermission.
The Knights managed to outscore the Panthers 40-38 in the final half.
NRHEG suffered through a sub-par shooting night, connecting on just 32 percent from the floor. The Panthers hit only 7-28 three-pointers and 16-25 free throws.
Carlie Wagner and Jade Schultz led NRHEG’s scoring, but neither player shot well. Wagner was 10-26 from the floor in scoring 28 points. Schultz popped in 14 points, but could hit only 4-17 shots. She nailed three triples.
Maddie Wagner flipped in 12 points and Paige Overgaard added eight. Wagner bombed in a pair of treys.
Maddie Wagner led the Panthers with four assists, one more than Marnie Wagner and Carlie Wagner.
Kenyon dropped 41 percent of its field goals. The Knights were 9-22 behind the arc and 9-23 from the foul stripe.
Kenyon held a 33 to 32 edge in rebounds, despite a 17 to 11 Panther advantage on the offensive boards.
Schultz topped the Panther board work with 10 rebounds for the winners. Overgaard and Carlie Wagner grabbed five boards apiece.
“We had some big offensive rebounds that really kept us going,” said Schultz.
Schultz, Carlie Wagner and Maddie Wagner all had three steals on defense. Maddie Wagner also blocked two shots.
NRHEG was guilty of 17 turnovers, one more than the Knights.
The Panther junior varsity remained undefeated with a 44-38 victory.
Randolph
RANDOLPH – The Panther express was back at full throttle Friday. NRHEG traveled to Randolph and brought back a 96-51 triumph.
Randolph, which lost 67-19 and 94-36 to NRHEG last season, slipped to 2-3 in the Gopher and 6-5 overall.
The game was decided by halftime as the Panthers romped to a 59-14 advantage.
“Our pressure defense got us going early,” said Schultz. “It was nice to see four players in double figures. Ryann Hagen had a good game for us.”
NRHEG fired up 93 shots, making 45 percent. The Panthers were 3-18 behind the arc and 9-13 from the free throw line.
Carlie Wagner poured in 44 points, knocking down 18-35 shots and 7-7 free throws.
Schultz popped in 16 points, Marnie Wagner tossed in 12, Overgaard 10 and Maddie Wagner eight.
Randolph, which did not make a three-pointer, shot 34 percent from the floor.
Bey and Endres scored 14 points apiece for Randolph.
NRHEG held a 44 to 29 rebounding advantage, including 26 to 10 on the offensive boards.
Overgaard snapped off 12 rebounds for the winners, including nine offensive boards. Schultz and Carlie Wagner snared seven boards apiece and Marnie Wagner grabbed five rebounds. Carlie Wagner also blocked three shots.
NRHEG had 27 steals in the game. Carlie Wagner had seven thefts, with Hannah Lundberg and Maddie Wagner getting three steals apiece.
The Panthers had just seven turnovers in the game, while forcing Randolph into 30 miscues.
Coach Grant Berg’s NRHEG JV squad slipped by Randolph 38-37 to remain undefeated.
Second place Blooming Prairie comes to town for a key conference matchup Friday.
The Panthers tangle with Minneapolis Washburn in Owatonna Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
NRHEG travels to Blue Earth for a non-conference game Tuesday.