The NRHEG girls’ basketball team ended the regular season against possibly the toughest team it could face in the postseason.
The Panthers hosted Section 2AA favorite St. Peter Monday, Feb. 23 and lost a 49-40 nonconference decision at New Richland. The Panthers, 9-3 in Gopher Valley Conference play, finished the regular season with a record of 13-11.
The Saints started the game strong, scoring their first eight points on transition baskets. They led 19-14 at halftime.
According to Panthers coach Onika Peterson, free-throw shooting was a key factor.
“They shot 18-for-30 from the line,” said Peterson. “We shot 5-for-18. We can’t shoot 27 percent from the free-throw line; they should be easy baskets.”
The Panthers played well defensively, holding St. Peter to one three-point basket for the game. They also did a good job defending senior Olivia Hass, limiting her to one basket with six of her 10 points coming from the free-throw line.
Sophomore Kayley Camerer paced the Panthers with 11 points, eight rebounds and two steals. Maddie Wagner had 10 points, four rebounds and two steals, Marnie Wagner nine points, nine rebounds and three assists, Anna Stork two points, seven rebounds and one assist, Ryann Hagen two points, four rebounds, Rachel Collins two points, two assists, Grace Johns two points and Kelli Harrington one point, two rebounds.
The Panthers drew the No. 3 seed in the south half of Section 2AA. They defeated No. 6 seed Maple River 70-48 in their opening tournament game on Monday, March 2.
They’ll play Thursday, March 5 against No. 2 seed WEM (18-7) at 7:45 p.m. at Mankato East High School. A win there would put the Panthers in the Section 2AA semifinals Monday, March 9 at 6 p.m. at Minnesota State University-Mankato, probably against St. Peter. The Section 2AA championship game is Friday, March 13 at 8 p.m. at MSU-Mankato.
St. Peter (20-5) is the No. 1 seed in the south half of the section. Norwood-Young America (22-3) is the top seed in the north, followed by Glencoe-Silver Lake (14-10) and Jordan (14-11).
“We hope to see St. Peter down the road in playoffs,” said Coach Peterson. “I have a lot of faith in what this team can accomplish during the playoffs. They have made such strides all season long.”
NRHEG
Kayley Camerer 11 pts, 8 reb, 2 steals; Maddie Wagner 1 pts, 4 reb, 2 steals; Marnie Wagner 9 pts, 9 reb, 3 assists; Grace Johns 2 pts; Anna Stork 2 pts, 7 reb, 1 assist; Rachel Collins 2 pts, 2 assists; Kelli Harrington 1 pt, 2 reb
St. Peter
Logan Retzloff 12 pts; Olivia McCabe 10 pts; Emily Carpenter 8 pts; Olivia Hass 8 pts; Maggie Anderson 6 pts; Kelli Hanson 2 pts; Ella Wiebusch 2 pts