Panthers top Blooming Prairie, Medford
By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
The NRHEG high school boys' basketball squad looks like it's trying a new strategy: team basketball.
The boys defeated a middle-of- the-pack Blooming Prairie squad at home Friday night 60-54.
“We came out hot,” said NRHEG head coach Dan Schmidt.
Following good ball movement, Sawyer Prigge and Sam Olson hit three-pointers on the Panthers' open- ing two possessions. Two minutes later, Daxter Lee drove and passed to the open man and Olson hit another open three to put the Panthers up 9-3 early.
“We did a great job of running our offense and being patient,” explained Schmidt.
They did more than be patient, jumping out to leads of 17-3 and 22- 6 less than six minutes into the game.
The Blossoms cut into the lead, getting within five with two minutes remaining in the first half. But more good ball movement led to baskets from Lukas Loverink in the paint and a basket from Lee to give the Panthers an 11-point lead.
“In the second half we came out and struggled protecting the ball and running our offense,” saod Coach Schmidt. “We let Blooming battle back.”
The Panthers held onto a 10-point lead for about six minutes, and led by as many as 13 in the second half.
A highlight-reel level play, a pass to a streaking Blossom who laid it in, ignited a run. The Blossoms scored 13 straight points. Back-to- back three pointers from Zachary Hein nodded it at 52-52 with two minutes to play.
And finally, the Panthers knocked down some clutch free throws when they needed to.
Prigge was fouled, and put to the line for a 1-and-1. He made both.
Loverink had a crucial block in the paint on the Blossoms' next pos- session to help shut the door.
Lee went to the line six times over the final minute and knocked down five free throws to put the game on ice.
“Sawyer hit two huge free throws,” said Schmidt. “It was a free-throw game for us to ice it.”
Lee led all scorers with 25 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists. He was
followed by: Olson 15 points; Prigge 5 points, 3 rebounds; Loverink 5 points, 6 rebounds; Jaylin Raab 5 points; Alden Dobberstein 3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assist; Jackson Chrz 2 points; Will Tuttle 12 rebounds.
The win capped a great week for the Panthers, who defeated Medford 73-60 Tuesday, Feb. 7 in New Richland. The Panthers were up 43- 28 at halftime.
"Ball movement was some of the best we've seen all year, as well our ability to attack the basket, and get some good looks at the basket due to that," said Schmidt. "Defensive effort was pretty good all night long. We rebounded really well as a team, and shot much better from the floor than we probably have all season.
Lee led all scorers with 26 points, adding 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. Tuttle totaled 17 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double. Others: Olson 13 points, 3 rebounds,
3 assists; Loverink 6 points, 3 rebounds, 3 blocks; Prigge 3 points; Chrz 3 points, 9 rebounds; Alden Dobberstein 3 points, 6 assists.
Austin Erickson led Medford with 23 points.
The Panthers played Le-Sueur Henderson on Tuesday, host Waterville-Elysian-Morristown on Friday, entertain St. Clair Feb. 21 and travel to USC Feb. 24.