Panthers are coming off consecutive 20-win seasons
By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
The NRHEG High School girls' basketball team did not graduate a ton of individuals from last year's highly successful season.
But they made quite an impact.
All-conference selections and longtime starters Sidney Schultz and Erin Jacobson are gone, as is last year's Panther Award winner Trinity Smith-Vulcan. Schultz finished third in NRHEG history with 1,831 points, second in career three-pointers with 259, third in career assists with 601 and ninth in steals with 273. Jacobson totaled 278 points and 195 rebounds last season, finishing 12th in NRHEG history with 598 rebounds and 14th in points with 943.
They helped last year's Panthers to an overall record of 21-6 and 12-2 in the Gopher Conference, 8-1 within their division. They fell to Hayfield in the conference championship game. The Panthers, who seem to be perennial contenders for a title or two, were 20-10 the previous season.
The Panthers have a record of 146-96 in nine seasons under head coach Onika Peterson, who's assisted by former Panthers Kayley Camerer and Betsy Schoenrock.
The Panthers return all-conference selection Faith Nielsen, who totaled 309 points and 92 rebounds a year ago. Also back are Hallie Schultz, who had 135 points and 164 rebounds, twins Quinn and Camryn VanMaldeghem, Presley Nielsen, Chloe Stork, Adalyn Stadheim and Isley Boerner. Quinn had 177 points and 149 rebounds last year, when she was chosen the team's MVP on defense, while Camryn totaled 158 points and 132 rebounds.
"I’m excited for the group of girls that I have this year," said Coach Petersno. "We are bringing back a couple of kids who played big minutes for us last year, and two seniors who have been on varsity since their eighth-grade season. We are also going to be relying on some athletes who will be making the jump from junior varsity to varsity. We are hoping to continue to improve all season so that we are playing our best come playoff time."
The rest of the varsity roster includes senior Hope Nielsen, sophomores Chloe Riewer and Adalyn Stadheim, freshnmen Isley Boerner, Savanna Farr and Kylie Olson, and eighth-grader Ezra Boerner.
The Panthers' strength is obvious with a strong nucleus of athletes who played a lot of minutes last season.
Their weakness could be overall numbers.
"Numbers across the state are down for girls' basketball, unfortunately," said Peterson. "A weakness would be losing kids due to sickness or injury."
The key to success for the NRHEG girls?
"Rebound and run the floor every chance we can," said Peterson. "Defensively, we need to be smart and aggressive. We have a solid core of returning athletes, but are looking for who will be stepping into some holes that we still need to fill from last season."
Peterson picks Hayfield and WEM as the favorites in the Gopher Conference, while WEM figures to reign in the secton.
NRHEG High School
2023-24 Girls' Basketball
Thurs., Nov. 30 at Blue Earth Area, 7:15
Fri., Dec. 1 vs. Medford, 7:15
Tues., Dec. 5 vs. Waseca, 7:15
Fri., Dec. 8 at Maple River, 7:30
Sat., Dec. 9 vs. N-YA at Maple River, 2 p.m.
Tues., Dec. 12 vs. Belle Plaine, 7:15
Fri., Dec. 15 vs. Randolph, 7:15
Thurs., Dec. 21 at St. Clair, 7 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 22 vs. United South Central, 7:15
Wed., Dec. 27 at St. James Inv., 6 p.m.
Thurs., Dec. 28 at St. James Inv., 6 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 5 at Kenyon-Wanamingo, 7:15
Tues., Jan. 9 at WEM, 7:15
Thurs., Jan. 11 vs. Hayfield, 7:15
Tues., Jan. 16 vs. JWP, 7:15
Fri., Jan. 19 at Blooming Prairie, 7:15
Mon., Jan. 22 vs. Tri-City United, 7:15
Tues., Jan. 23 at Maple River, 7:15
Fri., Jan. 26 vs. Bethlehem Academy, 7:15
Mon., Jan. 29 at Medford, 7:15
Thurs., Feb. 1 at Triton, 7:15
Fri., Feb. 2 at United South Central, 7:15
Tues., Feb. 6 vs. WEM, 7:15
Fri., Feb. 9 at JWP, 7:15
Fri., Feb. 16 vs. Maple River, 7:15
Sat. Feb. 17 Conf. championship, TBA