The NRHEG boys’ basketball team is starting to get a bit predictable.
All they do is win.
The Panthers remained unbeaten last week, dispatching arch-rival WEM in a key Gopher Conference contest while taking nonconference decisions over Kenyon-Wanamingo and Hayfield. Coach Pat Churchill’s crew improved to 11-0 overall and 2-0 in the conference.
NRHEG 59, Hayfield 50
Visiting NRHEG walked away with a hard fought victory Saturday against a well coached, disciplined Hayfield team.
“Over the past few years, these games have been such grinds against these guys,” said Churchill. “They are so patient and take care of the basketball extremely well.”
A low-scoring first half saw the Panthers take a 27-23 lead at the intermission. Hayfield took a 38-31 lead with nine minutes remaining, but the Panthers went on a run to take a six-point edge at the four-minute mark and held on for the win.
Individually for NRHEG: Oakley Baker 20 points, 10 rebounds; Benji Lundberg 19 points 5 rebounds; Tyler Raimann 10 points; Sam Prigge 7 points; Chad Agrimson 3 points.
For Hayfield, Trace Tebay scored 19, Adam Fjerstad 16, Dominic Dublin 13.
The NRHEG junior varsity won 53-20, improving to 9-2.
NRHEG 50, WEM 43
In another close one, the Panthers broke open a 22-22 halftime tie, pulling ahead by six early in the second half and fending off the Bucs at New Richland Thursday, Jan. 5.
“They kind of flustered us a bit offensively to start the game and it took us a little time to find our rhythm, but defensively I felt we competed hard the entire half and that is what allowed us to stay in it,” said Churchill. “In the second half we made a concentrated effort to get the ball to Tyler in the post and he got us going offensively.”
Individually: Raimann 17 points, 11 rebounds; Baker 15 points, 10 rebounds; Lundberg 11 points; Chad Agrimson three points; Brady Agrimson two points; Jason Jongbloedt two points.
Zac Olson scored 20 for WEM.
The JV lost 42-34.
NRHEG 82, Kenyon-Wanamingo 32
The Panthers kept the Knights winless with an easy victory at New Richland Tuesday, Jan. 3. It was 48-21 at halftime.
Individually: Raimann 21 points, nine rebounds; Baker 18 points; Lundberg 12 points, nine rebounds; Chad Agrimson 11 points; Prigge seven points; Jack Schultz three points; Brady Agrimson two points; Jerret Utpadel one point, five rebounds; Carter Fisher three points; Nathaniel Techau two points. Jack Beulke led K-M with 13 points.
The Panthers’ JV won 57-16.