By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
The NRHEG High School girls' basketball team played a pair of rivalry games late last week.
Both were very close. The results were mixed.
After defeating WEM 56-51 at New Richland Tuesday, the Panthers lost 68-65 in the first game of a boy-girl doubleheader Friday at JWP.
NRHEG ran its record to 17-7 overall and 10-5 in the Gopher Conference.
JWP, which led 31-28 at halftime, completed a season sweep of the Panthers while celebrating Katie Olson's 1,000th career point.
Fouls plagued the Panthers.
"We got up quick in the first couple of minutes of the game and unfortunately got into a little bit of foul trouble," said coach Onika Peterson. "We struggled boxing out and rebounding in the first half and gave them too many chances at second and third-chance shot opportunities. We struggled for a two-minute time span in the first half where they were able to hit some big shots when they needed to and caught up."
It was close in the second half as the Panthers fell behind by seven points but pulled to within one in the final minute.
"We had a chance to pull ahead, but didn’t," said Peterson. "It was a great competitive game of basketball, something you always want to have. Unfortunately, it wasn’t our night. Congrats to JWP’s Katie Olson on hitting her 1,000 points."
The Panthers' Camryn VanMaldeghem led all scorers with 30 points, adding six rebounds and three steals. Faith Nielsen had 13 points, three rebounds and two steals.
Others: Quinn VanMaldeghem 7P, 2R, 2S; Izley Boerner 2R, 1S; Hallie Schultz 2P, 6R, 2S; Addy Stadheim 4P, 2R; Presley Nielsen 3P, 4R; Kylie Olson 6P, 4R, 1S.
Against WEM, the Panthers rallied from a 26-22 halftime deficit.
"It is always a huge battle between NRHEG and WEM," said Peterson. "It was a fun back and forth game all night. Our kids really stepped up after a couple of rough games the previous week with Triton and USC. I'm very proud of this team and their effort that they put on the floor."
Individually: F.Nielsen 13P, 1R, 2S; Q.VanMaldeghem 12P, 10R, 5A, 3S; Boerner 3R; Schultz 8P, 6R, 2A, 1S; C.VanMaldeghem 18P, 7R, 5A, 5S, 1 blocked shot; P.Nielsen 2R, 1A; Olson 5P, 6R, 2A, 1S, 3B.
The Panthers conclude the regular season Friday, Feb. 16 at 7:15 at home against Maple River.
Section 2AA tournament play starts Feb. 26.