By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
The NRHEG boys played some great basketball when Waterville-Elysian-Morristown came to town last week.
They just didn't quite play enough of it.
The Panthers could not maintain a five-point halftime lead, struggling in the second half on the way to a 57-43 Gopher Conference setback in New Richland.
The Panthers started slowly, with four early turnovers leading to a 9-0 WEM advantage, but they went on a 15-6 run to tie it at 15. It was back and forth the rest of the first half, which saw NRHEG leading 28-23 at the intermission.
The second half started much like the first half, but this time the Panthers could not rally.
A big part of it, according to NRHEG coach Dan Schmidt, was turnovers and shot selection.
"We continue to have issues protecting the basketball, and with ill-advised shots," said Schmidt.
But it wasn't all bad.
"We saw some things in which they were trying to make that extra pass to an open man, which is what we're always trying to accomplish," he said. "Defensively, we're getting better. Now we need to avoid the lapses."
And they need to match their opponents' points and turn the ball over.
"It felt like when WEM would go on a little run, we'd come down and either turn it over or get a poor shot, which allowed WEM to counter with a basket of their own," explained Schmidt. "Those are things we need to clean up, and it starts with the coaching staff to get them to relax in those situations."
One highlight of the night, according to Schmidt, was the play of Aaden Hanna off the bench. The junior totaled 9 points and 8 rebounds from his guard position, along with playing some tremendous defense while matched up on one of WEM's best shooters.
Daxter Lee led the Panthers in scoring with 10 points while adding 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Jackson Chrz kicked in 9 points and 6 rebounds. Sam Olson had 6 points, Jared Lee 5, and Will Tuttle 4 points and 9 rebounds. Gavin Brown from WEM led all scorers with 19 points, followed by Talen Taylor with 18.
The Panthers played a nonconference game at Triton Monday and lost 73-59. The Cobras led 34-30 at halftime.
Daxter Lee scored 27, Tuttle 21. Triton's Luke Holicky totaled 32.
The loss was the seventh straight for the Panthers, who fell to 2-10 overall. They're 0-2 in the Gopher Conference.
After hosting a tough JWP team Tuesday, the Panthers are home again Friday against Blooming Prairie. They host Maple River Jan. 23.