Panthers remain undefeated in Gopher Conference
By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
The NRHEG High School girls' basketball team improved to 9-2 overall and 6-0 in the Gopher Conference last week, defeating Medford 76-39 and WEM 54-46 before dropping a 75-55 decision to Dover-Eyota.
Hosting Medford Tuesday, Jan. 10, the girls put the Tigers down early, jumping to a 31-point halftime advantage.
“We were able to get up big in the first half with some scrappy defense, and we were aggressive on offense,” said NRHEG coach Onika Peterson. “After we got ahead, our energy and defense dropped off in the second half. We will need to adjust that to prepare for WEM.”
Peterson offered her congratulations to Hallie Schultz for winning the “ExCEL Award.” The Minnesota State High School League ExCEL Award stands for Excellence in Community, Education, and Leadership. The annual award recognizes high school juniors who are active in fine arts and athletic activities, who show leadership qualities, and who are model citizens in their communities. Also winning the award from NRHEG was George Roesler.
Individually for the Panthers against Medford: Sidney Schultz 21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal; Erin Jacobson 16 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal; Camryn VanMaldeghem 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 steals; Quinn VanMaldeghem 10 points, 4 assist, 3 rebounds, 3 steals; Faith Nielsen 8 points, 4 steals, 3 rebounds; Preslie Nielsen 6 points, 1 steal, 2 rebounds; Hallie Schultz 4 points, 9 rebounds; Trinity Smith Vulcan 3 rebounds; Gabby Schlaak 1 rebound.
On Friday, the girls hosted WEM in one of their closest victories of the season. The Buccaneers fought back from a 15-point halftime deficit, but fell short.
“We were able to get up 16 at one point, but could never pull away,” Coach Peterson said. “WEM did a nice job hitting a couple of big threes
to drop the lead to 8. We made enough free throws down the stretch to win the game. It was a great Gopher Conference battle.”
Individually: Q. VanMaldeghem 19 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist; F. Nielsen 13 points, 1 rebound; S. Schultz 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists; Jacobson 9 points, 5 rebounds; C. VanMaldeghem 1 point, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 assist; H. Schultz 6 rebounds; Addy Stadheim 1 rebound; Chloe Stork 1 rebound.
The Panthers played Dover-Eyota in Kasson Saturday and, after a 3530 halftime deficit, came out on the short end of a lop-sided decision.
"The game didn’t go the way we had hoped or planned," said Coach Peterson. "I was proud of how hard the girls fought all game. In the end their height, and our foul trouble was a bit too much for us to overcome. We are off this week until we host Randolph Friday night for a Gopher Conference matchup."
Individually: F. Nielsen 20 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal; Q. VanMaldeghem 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block; Jacobson 4 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal; Schlaak 1 assist; H. Schultz 2 points, 6 re- bounds, 3 assists, 1 steal; S. Schultz 21 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3
steals; Stork 1 rebound, 1 block; C. VanMaldeghem 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals; P. Nielsen 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist.
After Friday's home game against Randolph, the Panthers have a four-game road trip starting Monday, Jan. 23 at TCU. They're at JWP Jan. 23, at Bethlehem Academy Jan. 27 and at Belle Plaine Jan. 30 before hosting Maple River Jan. 31.