Father daughter era concludes; Panthers graduate three seniors
By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
The NRHEG girls' basketball underdog story came to an end Monday night in Mankato’s Taylor Center.
Top-seeded Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial was just too tough.
LCWM, rated No. 3 in the state and riding a 20-game winning streak, ended the Panthers' season 68-33.
“LCWM has so many weapons in their arsenal, we had a tough time matching up against them,” NRHEG coach Onika Peterson said. “It seems like they couldn’t miss a basket and we struggled. We put ourselves in a hole and we couldn’t climb out of it. I wish the LCWM team the best of luck on Friday. I hope they can punch their ticket to the state tournament. They are a great team.”
After breezing past Maple River in the opening round of the sub-section tournament, the Panthers proceeded to upset second-seeded Waseca 44-38. The ride came to an abrupt end in the sub-section championship round, where the Panthers lost to the Knights for the second year in a row.
For the Panthers, they simply struggled to make shots. The girls fell behind early, trailing by double digits eight minutes into the contest. A buzzer-beater from the Knights sent the Panthers into intermission trailing 41-18.
Playing their final games Monday night were seniors Sidney Schultz and Erin Jacobson. The Panthers also graduate Trinity-Smith-Vulcan, whose season was cut short due to injury.
“To our seniors, Trinity, Erin, and Sidney: Thank you,” coach Peterson said. “Thank you for all of your hard work, time, effort, and dedication that you have given to NRHEG basketball. Your dedication to our program was crucial to our continued success.”
Coaching for the final time was assistant John Schultz. The pair, Schultz and Peterson, have shared a sideline for nearly a decade. Schultz has been a fixture, and coach at NRHEG since 1982.
“Thank you to John Schultz,” Coach Peterson continued. “He has been a wonderful coach, mentor, and friend. He has put in a lot of hard work and dedication to NRHEG sports. It has been an absolute privilege to have coached with him for the years that I did.”
The Panthers ended their season with a record of 21-6, 12-2 in conference.
Seniors Jacobson and Schultz led the Panthers in scoring with 11 points, and 8 points, respectively. Also scoring for the Panthers were Hallie Schultz 6; Faith Nielsen 4; Quinn VanMaldeghem 3; and Gabrielle Schlaak 1 point.