By TROY THOMPSON
Sportswriter
The NRHEG boys’ basketball team will roll into Section 2AA play next week with what should be a top-four seed after surviving Gopher Conference foe United South Central in overtime on Thursday, Feb. 12. The Panthers secured a second-place finish in the Gopher-Valley Conference with the nail-biting 73-66 win over last year’s co-champion.
The overtime battle against USC followed a 64-49 non-conference win against St. Peter on Tuesday, Feb. 10. With the pair of victories, the Panthers stand at 19-4 on the season, 9-3 in the conference. Maple River, who swept the Panthers in two games this year, will take the Gopher Conference crown with a 10-2 record.
The Panthers were able to keep St. Peter at bay throughout most of the game but still had to fend off a few pushes from the Saints. After taking control early, the Saints battled back to within four points at 25-21. But NRHEG went on a 12-2 run in the last four minutes to take a 14-point lead into the break.
St. Peter never let up, but the Panthers were finally able to push the lead to 20 late in the second half before cruising to the win.
Spencer Tollefson paced the Panthers with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Kevin Kalis added 9 points while Trevor Tracy and Oakley Baker each added 8 in the win.
NRHEG 73, USC 66 - OT
Much like NRHEG’s performance against Waseca last week, the Rebels were able to come into a hostile environment and dominate early.
USC shook off the NRHEG home crowd and stormed to a 34-24 halftime lead behind a balanced scoring attack and hustle.
“The first half was all USC,” said Panther coach Pat Churchill. “They played with great energy and were beating us to every loose ball and took a 10-point lead into halftime. I told our boys that if we didn't exceed their intensity, it didn't matter what we did.”
The Panthers ratcheted up their intensity level in the second half to whittle away at the deficit and get back in the game.
“In the second half we came out on the defensive end and started getting stops,” said Churchill.
But each time the Panthers clawed close, USC would fend off the comeback and push the lead back to eight points multiple times.
Relentless, the Panthers kept up the pressure and rode Baker’s hot hand to finally gain the lead with 10 seconds left on the clock. That’s when things got really exciting.
Hanging on to a one-point lead, the Panthers were called for a shooting foul as the clock showed 0.0. After the referees conferred, they awarded the Rebels a chance to win it at the line. USC sophomore Ryan Kloos tied the game on his first attempt, but missed the second free throw to send the game to overtime.
“It was a very bizarre play,” said Churchill. “The refs talked it over and decided that he was fouled before the buzzer.”
The Panthers used their own high-energy hustle in overtime to get the loose balls and turnovers that went USC’s way in the first half en route to an overtime lead, and secured the win at the free-throw line down the stretch.
Baker led all scorers with 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Panthers. Kalis netted 14 and Macoy Schwierjohann added 13 in the win. Kloos finished with 17 points to pace the Rebels. Luke Trio (16), Trevor Stencel (15), and Nate Pederson (14) also finished in double figures for USC.
The Panthers finish the regular season with a pair of non-conference contests this week and will open Section 2AA play on Feb. 24.
NRHEG
Spencer Tollefson 22 points 10 rebounds, Trevor Tracy 8 points, Macoy Schwierjohan 2 points, Kevin Kalis 9 points 8 rebounds, Oakley Baker 8 points, John Cole 4 points, Chad Agrimson 2 points, Kelson Titus 2 points, Tyler Raimann 7 points.
St. Peter
Joey More 11 points, Aaron Leeb 9 points, Mitch Johnson 11 points, Jordein Marquette 7 points, Jack Olinger 5 points, Noah Hildebrandt 4 points, Koleman Lund 2 points.
NRHEG
Spencer Tollefson 6 points, Trevor Tracy 2 points, Macoy Schwierjohann 13 points, Kevin Kalis 14 points, Oakley Baker 27 points 10 rebounds, John Cole 2 points, Chad Agrimson 7 points, Tyler Raiman 2 points.
USC
Luke Trio 16 points, Nate Pederson 14 points, Grant Becher 2 points, Trevor Stencel 15 points, Cody Latusek 2 points, Ryan Kloos 17 points.