Baker reaches 1,000 career points
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
Coach Pat Churchill and the NRHEG boys’ basketball team knew it wouldn’t be easy this season.
The Panthers, facing a formidable schedule, won one of two last week, defeating St. Clair 69-64 on Monday and dropping their Gopher Conference opener 62-41 at Maple River Friday. NRHEG is 3-3 overall.
Oakley Baker provided the highlights against St. Clair, totaling 25 points while reaching the 1,000 career point milestone in the first half. The junior added six rebounds and three three-pointers.
“I would like to congratulate Oakley on getting his 1,000th career point,” said Churchill “He is a tremendous high school basketball player who has earned all the praise he gets.”
Senior John Cole had 16 points and six rebounds, Chad Agrimson 14 points while going 4-for-4 on threes. Also scoring: Luke Overgaard eight, Tyler Raimann four, Tyler Schlaak four, Benji Lundberg two.Mitchell Weber and Paul Lang led St. Clair with 18 points each.
“This was a very good game,” said Churchill. “I don't think the lead either way was more then five points all night. Our two bigs both got in early foul trouble against their big kid Weber and we were forced to go zone and were able to go into the locker room up by one.”
The key to the end of the game was half-court defense. Overgaard and Cole hit back-to-back threes to secure the victory.
NRHEG’s junior varsity won 59-33.
The Panthers struggled at Mapleton.
“Maple River came out very aggressive and dominated the game from start to finish,” said Churchill. “I was very impressed with how hard they play on defense and how efficient they are on offense. I told my guys that we played great half-court defense in the first half until the shot when up, and then Maple River just punished us on the offensive glass.”
The Eagles had 11 offensive rebounds that accounted for 15 points. That was the difference in the first half.
“Maple River is a tremendous team that is extremely well coached,” said Churchill. “We know we have a lot of work to do to get to their level.”
Individually for the Panthers: Baker 19 points, eight rebounds; Raimann six points, six rebounds; Cole four points, seven rebounds; Lundberg four points; Jack Schultz four points; Cole Ignaszewski two points.
The Eagles were led by Will Keller and Cole Sohre with 16 apiece.