NRHEG Star Eagle

137 Years Serving the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Area
Newspaper of Record for NRHEG School District
Newspaper of Record for Waseca County, MN
PO Box 248 • New Richland, MN 56072

507-463-8112
email: steagle@hickorytech.net
Published every Thursday
Yearly Subscription: Waseca, Steele, and Freeborn counties: $52
Minnesota $57 • Out of state $64

Award winners were announced for 2015-16 NRHEG High School winter sports at the annual ceremony Thursday, March 17.

They were, by sport:


Boys’ Basketball

• Best Defensive Player — Oakley Baker

• Panther Award — Cole Ignaszewski

• Most Improved — Sam Prigge

• Practice Player — Tyler Schlaak

• All-conference — Baker, John Cole; honorable mention — Chad Agrimson

The NRHEG Panthers gave it their all and then some against the tall and talented Norwood-Young America Raiders in the Section 2AA girls’ basketball championship game.

It just wasn’t enough.

The underdog Panthers played from behind all night and some crucial plays did not go their way as they fell short 67-56 at Minnesota State-Mankato Friday, March 11. NRHEG finished an outstanding season one win away from the state tournament, with an overall record of 23-7.

The Raiders, who should represent Section 2AA well in the state tournament, took advantage of their superior height and hit several key three-pointers while building a 30-24 halftime lead.

NRHEG girls one win away from state


By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

Not many people gave the NRHEG girls’ basketball team much of a chance in Monday night’s sub-section title game against top-seeded WEM.

The Panthers surprised them — and the Buccaneers.

The NRHEG girls claimed the Section 2AA Sub-Section South championship by rallying past WEM and hanging on for a 55-52 triumph at Minnesota State-Mankato. The Panthers, who lost twice to WEM this season, improved to 23-6 and reached the section title game Friday at 8 p.m. at MSU against north sub-section champion Norwood-Young America (25-3).

“I’m extremely proud of this team,” said second-year NRHEG head coach Onika Peterson. “It was great to see them battle back and get the win. Going 0-2 against them throughout the season, I told the girls we only have to beat them one time; let’s do it during playoffs. Believe in yourself, believe in your teammates, play with heart, work for every possession and have fun. We beat a great WEM team. It happened to be our night.”