NRHEG girls one win away from state
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
Not many people gave the NRHEG girls’ basketball team much of a chance in Monday night’s sub-section title game against top-seeded WEM.
The Panthers surprised them — and the Buccaneers.
The NRHEG girls claimed the Section 2AA Sub-Section South championship by rallying past WEM and hanging on for a 55-52 triumph at Minnesota State-Mankato. The Panthers, who lost twice to WEM this season, improved to 23-6 and reached the section title game Friday at 8 p.m. at MSU against north sub-section champion Norwood-Young America (25-3).
“I’m extremely proud of this team,” said second-year NRHEG head coach Onika Peterson. “It was great to see them battle back and get the win. Going 0-2 against them throughout the season, I told the girls we only have to beat them one time; let’s do it during playoffs. Believe in yourself, believe in your teammates, play with heart, work for every possession and have fun. We beat a great WEM team. It happened to be our night.”
Carlie Wagner, who led the Panthers to consecutive state titles and now, of course, plays for the Gophers, was in attendance to watch her twin sisters and former teammates, and they didn’t disappoint.The Panthers played with aggression and weren’t shy to put up shots, unlike the Bucs — who won the state volleyball championship last fall — who seemed hesitant to shoot.
It was close through most of the first half, though WEM took a 33-23 halftime lead and appeared confident.
That confidence waned in the second half, though, as the Panthers got hot from outside and the Bucs struggled.
“Going in at the half down by 10, we talked about extending our guards further out to the three-point line, making sure we crash hard on the boards, and push the ball up the floor when we could,” said Peterson.
Individually for NRHEG: Maddie Wagner 13 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, three steals; Rachel Collins 12 points, two rebounds; Hailey Schuller nine points, three rebounds; Marnie Wagner seven points, five rebounds, two assists; Kayley Camerer seven points, two steals; Kelly Harden four points, three rebounds; Sophia Fischer three points.
The Panthers defeated Blue Earth Area 44-41 in overtime in the sub-section semifinals. Individually: Collins 12 points, two assists; Camerer 12 points, five rebounds, two blocked shots; Maddie Wagner nine points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals; Marnie Wagner five points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals; Harden three points, four rebounds, two assists; Betsy Schoenrock three points, two rebounds.