Panther girls improve to 20-0 for the season
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball team scored at least 80 points in routing three opponents last week.
For good measure, they added another lop-sided win for their 50th consecutive victory on Monday, trouncing Medford 72-26 in New Richland. It was the 50th consecutive victory, dating back to December 2012, for the defending state champion Panthers.
Last week, NRHEG blasted Faribault BA, Albert Lea and Maple River. The Panthers are 10-0 in the Gopher Conference, 20-0 overall.
After a slow start, the Panthers led 42-22 at halftime and completely shut down the Tigers after that. Medford fell to 4-6 in conference play.
‘We had a sputtering start the first 10 minutes,” said coach John Schultz. “The last 8 minutes of the first half Marnie Wagner, Anna Stork and Gretchen Ramaker fueled a great run. The kids came out the second half and worked very hard on defense, not allowing a field goal and going on a 30-4 run. It was a great team win and we saw what our reserves can do in a close game as well.”
Individually for NRHEG: Carlie Wagner 27 points, five rebounds, four steals; Marnie Wagner 17 points, seven rebounds, four steals; Jade Schultz seven points; Ramaker six points; Anna Stork four points; Paige Overgaard four points; Maddie Wagner three points, five rebounds; Hannah Lundberg two points, seven rebounds; Kayley Camerer two points.
The Panthers outrebounded Medford 43-19 and had six turnovers to the Tigers’ 19. NRHEG totaled 21 steals, Medford one.
Faribault BA
NEW RICHLAND – The Panthers romped past Faribault BA for the second time this season, winning 80-31 in New Richland Jan. 28.
The Cardinals, who lost the first meeting 83-16, dropped to 1-7 in the Gopher Conference and 1-15 overall.
“We played very unselfish tonight, always looking to make the extra pass,” said NRHEG coach John Schultz. “We did the small things well again.”
The outcome was never in doubt as NRHEG jumped to a 47-12 halftime lead.
The Panthers outscored FBA 33 to 19 in the second half.
Carlie Wagner nailed a couple of triples as she pumped in 31 points. She nailed 13 of 16 shots from the floor.
Maddie Wagner and Jade Schultz also hit double figures for NRHEG. Wagner scored 13 points and Schultz knocked down three triples on her way to an 11-point evening.
Hannah Lundberg handed out six assists for the winners, Maddie Wagner dished out five assists and Schultz passed out four assists.
NRHEG shot 46 percent from the floor, firing up 68 shots. The Panthers hit 6-14 treys and 14 of 22 free throws.
FBA got off only 37 shots, making 32 percent. The Cards were 1-6 behind the arc and 6-11 from the foul stripe.
Brown scored 10 points for FBA, the lone Cardinal to reach double digits.
NRHEG dominated the backboards by a 37 to 19 margin, including 19-2 on the offensive end.
“That tells me the girls were working hard,” said Schultz.
Schultz led the Panthers with nine rebounds, one more than Paige Overgaard.
Carlie Wagner and Maddie Wagner both grabbed four boards.
Lundberg sparked the Panther defense with five steals, one more than Maddie Wagner.
NRHEG turned the ball over 21 times, but forced Faribault into 38 miscues.
Grant Berg’s NRHEG junior varsity remained undefeated with a 73-30 victory.
Albert Lea
ALBERT LEA – NRHEG pulled away in the second half to post an 82-57 victory over the Albert Lea Tigers in Albert Lea last Thursday.
Albert Lea fell to 5-10 this season.
The Panthers managed a 35-27 halftime advantage before turning it on.
“We did not shoot the ball very well in the first half,” said Schultz. “Our rebounds and scrappiness made up for it.”
NRHEG outscored the Tigers 47 to 30 in the final half.
“We took control in the second half, shooting better and making fewer mistakes,” said Schultz. “Jade and Paige were just relentless on the boards.”
NRHEG got off 84 shots, converting on 36 percent of them.
The Panthers dropped 7-30 three-pointers and 17-29 gift tosses.
Carlie Wagner fired in 42 points. She nailed four three-pointers and dished out four assists.
Schultz and Overgaard scored 12 points apiece. Schultz hit two triples.
Schultz handed out six assists, while Carlie Wagner and Marnie Wagner passed out four apiece.
Albert Lea connected on just 29 percent of its fielders. The Tigers made 8-23 shots behind the arc and 12 of 19 free throws.
Kortan paced three Tigers into double figures with 26 points. Woodside scored 16 points and Rennelt added 11.
NRHEG won the rebounding battle 51 to 31, including 25 to 12 on the offensive boards.
Overgaard hauled down 16 rebounds, Schultz snapped off 13 boards and Marnie Wagner grabbed five caroms.
Overgaard snared eight offensive boards, one more than Schultz.
Anna Stork blocked a couple of shots for NRHEG.
Lundberg and Carlie Wagner both had five steals for NRHEG.
NRHEG was guilty of 13 turnovers, 10 fewer than Albert Lea.
The Panther JV romped to a 60-21 triumph.
Maple River
MAPLETON – NRHEG destroyed Maple River in Mapleton Friday, 88-22.
The Eagles, who lost the earlier meeting to NRHEG 90-35, fell to 0-9 in the conference and 3-16 overall.
NRHEG built a 53-15 cushion by the intermission.
The Panthers held a 35-7 margin in the second half.
“Everyone contributed and got to play a lot tonight,” said Schultz. “It was good to see our bench play so well.”
NRHEG fired up 89 shots, making 39 percent of them. The Panthers dropped 10-30 triples and 8-15 free throws.
Carlie Wagner led the way with 38 points, burying four shots from long range. She also handed out six assists. Wagner dropped 16 of 25 shots from the floor.
Schultz scored 17 points and dished out four assists. She hit five of 11 shots behind the arc.
Gretchen Ramaker scored seven points, while Overgaard and Maddie Wagner scored six apiece.
Kelli Harrington passed out five assists, one more than Maddie Wagner.
Maple River had just six field goals in the game, shooting 14 percent. The Eagles were 1-9 behind the arc and 9-16 from the foul stripe.
Caven was the lone Eagle to reach double figures with 10 points.
NRHEG held a 49 to 26 rebounding advantage, including 25-7 on the offensive boards.
Overgaard continued her outstanding work on the boards, pulling down nine rebounds.
Schultz, Stork and Harrington snared six rebounds apiece, one more than Kayley Camerer.
Schultz and Overgaard both had five steals on defense, one more than Carlie Wagner and Lundberg.
The Eagles were forced into 31 turnovers, compared to just 12 mistakes for NRHEG.
The junior varsity suffered its first loss of the season, losing 65-56.
NRHEG entertains Randolph Friday, a team it defeated 96-51 earlier.
The Panthers travel to Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Tuesday, hoping to duplicate an earlier 75-39 triumph.