By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
Your best player scores 16 points and adds six assists, another starter finishes with his third straight doubledouble, scoring 19 and pulling down 11 rebounds, and a third player hits 5 of 8 three-pointers for 15 points.
You'd think that would be enough to win.
For the NRHEG boys' basketball team, it wasn't. The Panthers lost to visiting United South Central
Tuesday, Jan. 17, falling 82-63 despite the great individual efforts on the part of NRHEG.
"USC was extremely efficient offensively, and they play pretty well on the defensive end," said Panthers coach Dan Schmidt.
And the home team responded with one of its better shooting nights of the season.
"But, they still made us work for it," said Schmidt.
And the Rebels capitalized on the Panthers' defensive shortcomings. USC led 42-30 at halftime.
"Defense has been our Achilles heel this year," said Schmidt. "We need to clean that up, and that starts with
me and doing a better job on the messaging and goals on defense. We’ll get there. It’s not an overnight fix. But we’re young, and we’ve got time to build what we want to do in the program."
Will Tuttle led the Panthers with 19 points and 11 rebounds for his third straight double-double. Daxter Lee, who recently surpassed the 1,000-point milestone, totaled 16 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. Sawyer Prigge made the 3s for 15 points, adding 3 rebounds. Others: Sam Olson 8 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds; Jaylin Raab 3 points, 3 assists; Jackson Chrz 2 points.
The Panthers dropped a 63-48 decision at Randolph Friday, Jan. 20. For the Panthers: Prigge 14 points (4 3pointers), 3 rebounds, 4 assists; Lee 9 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals; Tuttle 8 points, 9 rebounds; Chrz 5 points, 4 rebounds; Olson 5 points; Jase Knudson 5 points; Raab 2 points.
The Panthers started a four-game homestand Tuesday, Jan. 24 against JWP. They host TCU Jan. 26, Bethlehem Academy Jan. 27 and Maple River Jan. 30.