By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
All you have to do is read the names in the scorebook to determine what kind of season it has been for the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys' basketball team.
Almost every name is different from the start of the season as the Panthers have dealt with a seemingly neverending string of injuries and illness.
It was apparent last Friday at Mapleton, where the Panthers were humbled 70-16. That's not a misprint. The Panthers managed only 16 points against a good Maple River squad.
"Once again, turnovers and rebounding killed us, along with our inability to finish at the rim," said NRHEG coach Dan Schmidt. "We turned the ball over 28 times, to go along with shooting 25 percent from the field, and getting outrebounded 35-13."
Dom Olson topped the NRHEG scoring charts with three points. Will Tuttle, Hudson Chrz, Jared Lee, Brooks Gilliland, Jase Knutson and AJ Deen netted two each, Greyson Schaefer one.
Cole Davis of Maple River led all scorers with 24 points, on 8-for-15 from the three-point line. Wyatt Burr added 17 points and nine rebounds.
"It was pure dominance from Maple River from the opening tip," said Coach Schmidt. "You can always count on the Eagles playing tremendous defense, but we put ourselves in a hole with missed opportunities. We'll try to rebound against St Clair on Tuesday."
The Panthers, 1-8 in the Gopher Conference West and 3-21 overall, traveled to St. Clair Tuesday and end the regular season Thursday, Feb. 22 at LeSueur-Henderson.