By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
Listening to coach Onika Peterson, you’d have to wonder who won the opening-round sub-section girls’ basketball game between No. 2 seed NRHEG and seventh-seeded St. James.
“We didn't play our best game tonight,” said the Panthers’ head coach. “St. James came in and worked hard. We struggled to get things moving in the first half.”
But in the end the Panthers prevailed, dispatching the visiting Saints 64-41 at New Richland Saturday, Feb. 27.
The second-seeded Panthers improved to 21-6, advancing to the sub-section semifinals against No. 3 seed Blue Earth Area (16-9) Thursday, March 3 at 7:45 p.m. at Mankato East High School. The winner there plays Monday, March 7 at 8 p.m. at Minnesota State-Mankato, probably against top-seeded WEM (24-3), for the sub-section title. The Section 2AA championship and state tournament berth will be determined Friday, March 11 at 8 p.m. at MSU.
“We are excited to be moving on to Mankato East, but know that we need to come ready to play,” said Peterson. “Blue Earth is a great team who will fight every possession with tough, scrappy, in-your-face defense.”The Panthers played well defensively against St. James (6-18), totaling 15 steals while outrebounding the Saints 38-19.
The Wagner twins both had a big night. Marnie totaled 19 points, five rebounds, three steals, two assists, Maddie 15 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. Others: Kaylie Camerer 13 points, six rebounds, five assists, five steals; Rachel Collins 13 points, two rebounds, two steals; Hailey Schuller three rebounds, two steals; Betsy Schoenrock four rebounds, one block; Sophia Fischer four rebounds; Emily Eder two rebounds.
Prior to the Panthers taking on Blue Earth Area, WEM faces Fairmont (12-13) at 6 p.m. Thursday in the first south sub-section semifinal at Mankato East. The north sub-section semifinals pit Norwood-Young America (23-3) against GFW (17-8), and St. Peter (20-6) against Glencoe-Silver Lake (14-11).