Undefeated, top-ranked Panthers pummel BEA, USC
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball team held two opponents below 40 points in romping to a pair of road wins last week.
The Panthers stymied Blue Earth in a non-conference battle Jan. 21.
NRHEG hammered Gopher Conference foe United South Central Friday.
NRHEG’s 8-0 conference record is two games ahead of Blooming Prairie and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown. The top-ranked Panthers are 16-0 this season, and stretched their winning streak to 46 straight games.
Blue EarthBLUE EARTH – NRHEG got off to a sluggish start, but still had no problem in rolling past Blue Earth 66-39.
The Buccaneers fell to 6-7 this season. NRHEG thumped Blue Earth twice last season, 54-17 and 63-28 in the sub-section semifinals.
“It was a slow-paced game at the start which is not our style,” said NRHEG coach John Schultz. “We did make our pressure defense work well, and then the scoring picked up.”
The outcome was decided by halftime with the Panthers holding a 40-18 advantage.
Blue Earth’s offense improved the second half, but NRHEG still managed a 26 to 21 advantage.
Carlie Wagner nailed four three-pointers on the way to a 39-point game. She also handed out four assists.
Wagner hit 17 of 33 shots from the floor.
Jade Schultz chipped in with nine points, all coming from behind the arc. Paige “The Rock” Overgaard added six points.
Hannah Lundberg dished out four assists.
The Panthers shot 42 percent from the floor. NRHEG hit 7-22 three-pointers and 1-7 free throws.
BE had three players reach double digits and score all but five of the Buccaneer points.
Kait Olsen flipped in 12 points for the Bucs, and Karli Olsen and Shayna Stevermer added 11 points apiece.
The Bucs shot 29 percent from the field. BE made 3-16 triples and 8-15 gift shots.
NRHEG controlled the backboards by a 37 to 21 margin, including 19-6 on the offensive boards.
Overgaard, Schultz, Marnie Wagner and Kayley Camerer snared five rebounds apiece for the Panthers. Camerer had four offensive boards.
Anna Stork and Carlie Wagner grabbed four boards apiece.
NRHEG’s pressure defense forced 19 steals in the contest. Lundberg had five steals, one more than Overgaard and Schultz.
Blue Earth was guilty of 22 turnovers, compared to 14 miscues by the Panthers.
Grant Berg’s NRHEG junior varsity cruised to a 59-19 win over Blue Earth
USC
WELLS – NRHEG’s defense was sharp again as the Panthers thumped USC for the second time this season, 70-34.
NRHEG won the first meeting this season 80-19.
The Rebels dropped to 5-3 (4th) in the conference and 11-4 for the year.
“Our team defense was sharp tonight,” said Schultz. “Our pressure led us into a lot of fast break layups.”
NRHEG again took care of business early, romping to a 47-19
halftime cushion. The Panthers held a 23 to 15 advantage the second half.
NRHEG shot 39 percent from the floor. The Panthers made 7-26 threes and 7-13 free throws.
Carlie Wagner nailed 40 points for the winners, knocking down four triples in the game. Wagner hit 16 of 31 shots and dished out five assists.
Maddie Wagner tossed in eight points, Overgaard finished with seven points and Schultz added six.
Maddie Wagner passed out four assists, one more than Schultz.
Shianne Robertson and Anissa Janzig flipped in 10 points apiece to pace USC.
The Panthers held Tara Bauman to five points.
USC could connect on just 31 percent of its shots against the Panther defense. The Rebels were 2-10 behind the arc and 8-15 from the charity stripe.
NRHEG controlled the boards by a 35 to 22 margin, including 20-7 on the offensive boards.
Marnie Wagner led the Panthers with eight rebounds, including six offensive boards. Carlie Wagner snared six boards, Schultz grabbed five caroms and Overgaard pulled down four rebounds for NRHEG. Overgaard also blocked two shots.
Lundberg and Schultz both had three steals for NRHEG.
The Panthers made only eight turnovers in the game, while forcing USC into 25 miscues.
The Panther JV remained undefeated with a 50-41 victory over USC.
NRHEG is on the road for games at Albert Lea tonight and Maple River Friday.
Medford comes to town for a Gopher Conference game Monday.