Everyone knew the Gopher Conference would be challenging for the NRHEG boys’ basketball team.
The nonconference schedule hasn’t been a cakewalk either.
The Panthers, fresh off a third-place finish in the Bethany Christmas Tournament, let a scrappy Hayfield crew back in the game and lost 75-69 at New Richland Saturday, Jan. 2. NRHEG fell to 8-5 overall.
The Panthers jumped to an early 10-point lead, but Hayfield battled back to tie it 23-all at halftime.
“I thought we had a chance to get out ahead early in the first half, but Hayfield did a nice job of executing and hitting some shots that allowed them back in the game,” said Panthers coach Pat Churchill.
The second half was close. Hayfield took a five-point lead with around eight minutes remaining and the Panthers tried to speed up the game with some traps, but Hayfield hit some big shots and NRHEG could not get any closer then five the rest of the way.“Credit Hayfield for executing better than we did tonight,” said Churchill.
Oakley Baker led the Panthers with 25 points. Chad Agrimson scored 15, Tyler Raimann 12, John Cole nine, Jason Jongbloedt three, Luke Overgaard two, Benji Lundberg two, Sam Prigge one.
Drew Olive scored 25 to pace Hayfield.
The NRHEG JV won 39-36.
After defeating LCWM in the opening round at Bethany, the Panthers lost 64-47 to Gopher Conference foe Maple River in the semifinals.
The Eagles went on a run midway through the first half. They were up by four when NRHEG missed a dunk and got a technical foul for hanging on the rim. Maple River took advantage and hit both free throws and made a basket, a six-point swing. It was 31-18 at halftime.
NRHEG cut the lead to 39-33 and kept it close for a while, but Maple River stretched it to double digits for the final six minutes.
NRHEG scoring: Baker 19, Cole 10, Raimann nine, Lundberg three, Agrimson two, Overgaard two, Jack Schultz two.
Brandon Sohre scored 19 for Maple River.
The NRHEG junior varsity won 38-30.
The Panthers defeated Fairmont 62-50 in the third-place game. NRHEG used a hot start, taking a 16-2 advantage and leading 31-23 at halftime.
“I felt that defensively, we had a nice start,” said Churchill. “We took them out of rhythm and that led to some good opportunities offensively. This was a real nice game for us.”
Scoring: Baker 23, Cole 18, Raimann 11, Agrimson six, Lundberg two, Schultz two.
Walker Tordsen topped Fairmont scorers with 24.
The Panthers play Thursday, Jan. 7 at Waterville.