By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
It was ironic.
Statistics for the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball team were left at Minnesota State-Mankato after Monday night’s Sub-Section South 2AA Tournament finals.
All coach John Schultz had were what Blue Earth Area coach Al Cue sent him via e-mail. It was more than enough to tell the story.
BEA implemented a near-flawless game plan while the Panthers had their poorest performance of the season and lost, 39-34.
“Our offense went stagnant, but give credit to BEA’s defense and strategy,” said Schultz, whose team finished 23-4 overall. “We were sub-section runner-up and Gopher Conference champs. I am happy with our efforts last night and all season.”
You can talk about rebounding , turnovers, shots that failed to fall or bad bounces, but the most telling statistic Monday was at the free-throw line. The Panthers attempted only one. The Bucs were 14-for-22.
“Obviously, the free-throw line made a difference,” said Schultz.
Rebounding was also a problem. The Panthers, who dominated teams on the boards all season, were outrebounded for the first time, 32-28.
“BEA attacked the boards much more aggressively than us,” said Schultz.
The score was close most of the night. The Panthers led 5-0 and 7-3 early, trailed 13-9 and were up 21-19 at halftime.
The Bucs were able to break the Panthers’ half-court trap and played a very deliberate offensive scheme, severely hampering NRHEG’s running game that had flourished all season.
The second half was back-and-forth, with the Panthers as close as 34-32 with 1:09 remaining. The rest of BEA’s points came on free throws.
Carlie Wagner and Kristina Cole led the Panthers with 11 points each. Anna Schlaak scored six, Jade Schultz four, Raelin Schue two.
The Panthers were 8-for-31 from the floor (6-for-19 on threes) and 0-for-1 at the line, the Bucs 8-for-34 (3-for-12 threes) to go along with their 14 free throws.
NRHEG had 18 turnovers, BEA 17.
The Panthers reached the finals in dominating fashion, blasting Triton 61-30 at home last Tuesday and avenging their lone conference loss to USC, beating the Rebels 64-44 at New Richland Friday.
NRHEG held eighth-seeded Triton scoreless for the first seven minutes, leading 36-16 at halftime.
Individual statistics: Wagner 23 points, nine rebounds, seven assists; Schultz 13 points, eight rebounds, six assists; Schlaak 11 points, eight rebounds, three steals; Cole eight points, 10 rebounds; Tori Raimann three points; Schue three points.
The gym was rocking for the USC game, which the Panthers controlled after a close start. They led 31-22 and won going away.
Individually: Wagner 24 points, six rebounds, seven steals; Cole 16 points, 13 rebounds, five assists; Schultz 13 points, four rebounds; Raimann four points; Schue three points; Schlaak two points, 14 rebounds, four assists, four steals.
The Panthers graduate only one senior, Cole.
“She was a great asset to our team and a great team leader,” said Coach Schultz. “She will be missed.”
Overall, Coach Schultz is very pleased with the Panthers’ season.
“People don’t realize that we had to replace three multi-year starters this season,” he said. “One was a 1,000-point scorer (Alyssa Hagen) and one was the all-time scoring leader at NRHEG (Alyssa Kerkhoff). This year’s girls used heart and chemistry to put things together to be a great team.”