BP too much to handle in NR
By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
After losing three straight to the top teams in the Gopher Conference, the NRHEG boys’ basketball team was ready to snap the streak at last-place Medford Monday night.
But it didn’t start out that way.
The Panthers turned the ball over early and often.
“It’s not exactly the way you want to start,” said coach Isaiah Lundberg.
The positive was that the defense did not allow Medford to score. They eventually settled down and came home with a 65-60 victory.
“As the first half got going, the pace picked up and we started to make some shots,” said Lundberg. “I thought we did a good job of handling their press in the first half.”
The Panthers led 30-24 at halftime.
Jacob Schuller scored 16 points to lead the Panthers, who got 15 from Brady Agrimson, 14 from Kordell Schlaak and 12 by Blake Ihrke.
Ryan Hermanstorfer led Medford with 10.
“They mixed up playing man and playing a triangle and two on us, and you could tell that it took a bit for us to get used to it, but when we did, we got some nice open looks and some nice cuts for layups,” said Lundberg.
The Panthers improved to 3-7 in the conference and 8-11 overall while Medford fell to 0-10 and 2-13
Blooming Prairie 71, NRHEG 51
The Blossoms handed the Panthers their third consecutive loss at New Richland Friday, Feb. 1.
The visitors led 36-21 at halftime.
It was a slow start for the Panthers, who trailed 14-5 early and never seemed to find a rhythm on offense.
“We never really got the ball moving enough and guys were standing a bit too much,” said Lundberg. “There were times towards the end of the half where I thought we did attack off the dribble and hit cutters, but we just didn't make enough of those baskets.”
Lundberg said the Panthers’ first-half defense was “not bad.”
“I give them credit,” he stated. “They had a few guys step up and hit some shots from three and they made their shots around the rim.”
The second half was about the same as the first for the Panthers. They had an opportunity to get the lead under 10, but turned it back over and the Blossoms converted it into a layup.
“I thought if we could have got it below 10 we could have possibly got back into it,” said Lundberg. “I give them credit. They made baskets when they had chances and we didn't make enough of ours when we had our chances.”
A big positive for the game, according to Lundberg, was the Panthers were 17-for-22 at the free-throw line, big because they’re shooting a little over 50% on the year. Schuller scored 12, Lonnie Wilson 10, Ihrke nine, Agrimson eight, Devin Buendorf seven, Schlaak three, Ashton Johnson two.
Gabe Hagen scored 16 and Kaden Thomas 15 for the Blossoms.