NRHEG boys play best game of the season to triumph 59-53 at BA
There was a time when Bethlehem Academy’s little gym in Faribault was one of the toughest places to play in the Gopher Conference.
But, as they so often do in sports, times have changed.
The NRHEG boys’ basketball team picked up victory No. 2 on the season Friday, Feb. 5 at BA, winning 59-53.
“Tonight was the best start to a game we have had all season so far,” said Panthers coach Isaiah Lundberg.
The Panthers bolted to a 16-2 lead, after which the Cardinals switched to a zone defense and, according to Lundberg, did a nice job of adjusting to the switch and got some good looks and made the most of them.”
The Panthers led 36-27 at halftime.
“In the first half they had 15 points in transition out of their 27, and they scored for the first time against our half-court defense with about a minute to go in the first half,” said Lundberg. “That was good, but the 15 points given up in transition not so much.”
In the second half NRHEG came out and did a nice job again on both ends. The Panthers built the lead to 50-36 with about seven minutes left and had four guys with four fouls at that time.
“We were just hoping we would not have anyone foul out,” said Lundberg. “We did an O.K. job of handling all the pressing and trapping they did at the end of the game and came up big making some free throws to ice the game after they cut the lead to 55-50. We shot really well for the game, 22-42 from the field, with Kordell Schlaak going 7-for-7. It was big for us that he had such a good game on offense.”
Schlaak finished with a season-high 18 points, followed by Daxter Lee with 12.
Three nights earlier the Panthers made the long trip to Fairmont and dropped a 62-41 nonconference decision.
The Panthers grabbed an early 12-6 lead, but that changed with Fairmont switched to a zone defense and NRHEG wasn’t able to capitalize on the offensive end. Fairmont led 20-17 at the break.
“We had good looks and moved the ball, but just couldn't find a way to make a shot,” said Lundberg.
In the second half the Cardinals came out in man-to-man defense, like they started the game, and the Panthers scored on two of the first three possessions to get the game to 25-22.”
Then Fairmont again switched to a zone and you can guess what happened next. They trailed by 12 with about six minutes to and it got worse from there.
“We just never were able to shoot for some reason against them while they played zone,” said Lundberg. “We finished the game 15-for-47 from the field and when we got chances at the line we only made 7 of 19. We tried a press and some half-court traps to force them into a turnover and some opportunities to get out and get some layups, but they got some layups or were fouled,” said Lundberg.
Lee led the Panthers with 14 points.
The Panthers, 2-5, returned to action Tuesday hosting Blooming. Prairie. They play Friday, Feb. 12 at Hayfield.
NRHEG 59, BA 53
Scoring for NRHEG: Kordell Schlaak 18, Porter Peterson 6, Daxter Lee 12, Ashton Johnson 8, Jaxon Beck 7, Benjamin Schoenrock 1, Jack Olson 7
Scoring for BA: Kade Robb 9, Bo Dienst 7, Elliot Smith 9, Brady Strodtman 9, Zach Donkers 3, Justin Simones 4, JJ Malecha 10
Fairmont 62, NRHEG
Scoring for NRHEG: Kordell Schlaak 3, Porter Peterson 6, Daxter Lee 14, Ashton Johnson 8, Dakota Neste 3, Jaxon Beck 2, Jack Olson 5
Scoring for Fairmont: Sawyer Tordsen 9, Zach Jorgenson 11, Jacob Crissinger 11, Gavin Junkermeier 14, tanner Rosch 6, Levi Pooley 6, Armando Hernandez 3, Jackson Francis 2