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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.
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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.
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By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
The NRHEG Panthers brought in two section opponents for a wrestling triangular last Thursday.
It was a good night for the home team.
The Panthers nearly swept it, defeating St. Clair/Mankato Loyola 45-24 while getting edged by WEM/JWP 37-33.
"Things are really starting to come together on our team, after we have been having some difficulties," said NRHEG coach Shawn Larson. "Although we did not win the match with WEM/JWP, we were in control through most of it, and we had a chance to win. If we can continue to get people healthy, and in the right place in the lineup, we will hopefully be ready to make a run in a couple of weeks at the section tournament."
As usual, the Panthers started in a hole against St. Clair/Loyola, which claimed forfeits at 107 and 114 pounds before decisioning Dakota Schlaak 6-0 at 121.
It was almost all Panthers after that.
Seth Staloch and Parker Bunn won by forfeit at 133 and 139, and Reese Routh won by fall at 145 to put NRHEG up 24-15. Harbor Cromwell was nipped 3-2 at 152, Ryan Schlaak scored a 12-5 decision at 160.