By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
Admittedly, the NRHEG High School girls’ basketball isn’t currently firing on all cylinders.
But the Panthers picked up a win anyway at Wells last Friday, defeating United South Central 62-54 in a Gopher Conference game.
The Panthers, who recently completed what coach Onika Peterson figured to be their toughest stretch of the season, led 23-21 at halfime.
“A win is a win,” said Peterson. “Unfortunately, we aren’t playing well right now.”
The adversity came after the Panthers started the season extremly strong.
“These last couple of weeks, we have run into some tough competition and things haven’t gone our way,” said Peterson.
Camryn VanMaldeghem scored a season and career-high 30 points, making it a double-double with 17 rebounds. She also had five steals, three assists and two blocked shots.
Others: Faith Neilsen 12P, 3R, 2S; Izley Boerner 2P, 4R; Clara Buendorf 3P, 1R; Hallie Schultz 6P, 6R, 1A; Addy Stadheim 5P, 3R, 1A, 1S; Ezra Boerner 1S; Presley Nielsen 2P, 1R; Kylie Olson 2P, 13R, 1S, 1B.
“We are fighting hard to compete, but are struggling to make shots and play solid defense,” said Coach Peterson. “We need to relax, play loose, and get back to playing Panther basketball. “
The previous night, the Panthers dropped a nonconference game to Triton, 64-54. The Cobras led 32-25 at the intermission.
“It was an extremely physical game all night,” said Peterson. “We put ourselves in a hole, climbed out of it, put ourselves in a hole again, to climb back out of it, but we never could take control of the game.”
Triton used full-court pressure defense to try and rush the Panthers into a faster style than they would have liked.
And the Panthers were less than full strength.
“We are dealing with some injuries, hoping to get some kids back soon,” said Peterson. “We have a tough week next two weeks playing WEM on Tuesday, at JWP for a boy/girl double header on Friday, and round out the regular season with Maple River on the 16th.”
Individually vs. Triton: F.Nielsen 10P, 1R, 1A; I.Boerner 2P, 8R; Buendorf 1R; Schultz 2P, 6R, 1S; C.VanMaldeghem 22P, 7R, 2A, 4S, 2B; Stadheim 5P, 5R, 1B; P.Nielsen 4R, 1A; Olson 13P, 7R, 2S, 3B.