NRHEG girls top Washburn, extending victory streak to 44
HELPING HAND — The Panthers’ Carlie Wagner helps up a WEM opponent after she battled with Jade Schultz for a loose ball during the Panthers’ Gopher Conference victory last week. The unbeaten, top-ranked Panthers went on to defeat Blooming Prairie on Friday and Minneapolis Washburn Saturday, running their victory streak to 44 games. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball team strengthened its number 1 ranking during the week.
The Panthers disposed of Gopher Conference foes Waterville-Elysian-Morristown and Blooming Prairie, before outlasting Minneapolis Washburn, to complete a three-win week.
NRHEG climbed to 7-0 in the conference and 14-0 for the year. The Panthers stretched their win streak to 44 games.
WEM
NEW RICHLAND – NRHEG jumped on WEM early and rolled to a 75-39 victory over the Buccaneers in New Richland Jan. 14.
Gabe Hauer’s Bucs fell to 3-2 in the conference and 7-5 for the year.
NRHEG won both games last season, 71-32 and 73-44.
The Panthers took a 37-23 halftime lead before getting going. NRHEG outscored the Bucs 38 to 16 in the final half.
“We had a cold shooting night,” said NRHEG coach John Schultz. “WEM did a nice job defending and making us work for our points.”
NRHEG shot 43 percent from the floor, but could make only 3-16 shots behind the arc. The Panthers hit 4-6 free throws.
WEM put the clamps on everyone but Carlie Wagner. She fired in 44 points to top the NRHEG scoring. She hit 20 of 36 shots, and also dished out five assists.
Paige Overgaard and Marnie “Ice” Wagner finished with nine points apiece. Marnie Wagner handed out five assists.
Jade Schultz added five points and six assists.
Hannah Steinhaus led the Buc attack with 14 points, and Kalley Kendall added 11.
WEM shot 30 percent from the field. The Bucs were 0-6 behind the arc and 13-28 from the foul stripe.
“WEM played very physical,” said Schultz. “We fouled too much and did not work hard enough on defense.”
NRHEG finished with a 35 to 22 rebounding advantage, including 19-8 on the offensive end.
Marnie Wagner ripped down 10 rebounds for the Panthers, including eight offensive boards. Hannah Lundberg, Overgaard and Schultz grabbing six boards apiece.
Marnie Wagner sparked the NRHEG defense with seven steals, and Carlie Wagner added four thefts.
WEM was guilty of 26 turnovers in the contest, while the Panthers committed 17 miscues.
The NRHEG junior varsity rolled to a 53-30 victory.
Blooming Prairie
NEW RICHLAND – NRHEG gave itself some breathing space in the conference with a 64-36 triumph over second place Blooming Prairie in New Richland Friday.
It was the first conference loss in six starts for the Blossoms, who slipped to 10-2 overall.
NRHEG won both games a year ago, 79-52 and 77-41.
BP stuck right with the Panthers for the first half, trailing only 29-23 at the intermission.
“We were just ice cold in the first half,” said Schultz. “BP did a nice job defensively, but we couldn’t make a three-pointer.”
NRHEG got off to a good start in the second half and then pulled away. The Panthers outscored Blooming Prairie 35 13 in the second half.
Carlie Wagner erupted for 40 points for the Panthers, making 16 of 43 shots.
Marnie Wagner tossed in nine points for the winners. She handed out five assists, one more than Maddie Wagner.
Schultz twisted an ankle midway through the first half and played sparingly the rest of the game.
NRHEG shot just 29 percent from the floor. The Panthers were 4-27 on three-pointers and 12-21 from the foul line.
Sara Noble led the Blossoms with 11 points, one more than Taylor Hagen.
BP was held to 21 percent shooting, making 3-12 threes and 11 of 20 free throws.
NRHEG dominated the backboards, holding a 49 to 26 advantage, including 23-8 on the offensive boards.
Overgaard hauled down 12 rebounds, Carlie Wagner snared 10 boards, Lundberg grabbed seven caroms and Maddie Wagner snapped off five boards.
Carlie Wagner and Lundberg made five steals apiece, one more than Marnie Wagner.
NRHEG turned the ball over just 10 times in the contest, while forcing the Blossoms into 26 miscues.
The Panther JV romped to a 45-24 victory to remain undefeated.
Washburn
OWATONNA – The NRHEG Panthers had to gut it out to achieve and 87-77 victory over Minneapolis Washburn in Owatonna Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers won with Carlie Wagner spending 12 minutes on the bench in foul trouble and Jade Schultz playing on one good ankle.
The Millers, who NRHEG beat in the state semifinals last season, fell to 11-4 for the year.
NRHEG took a 39-25 lead at the break, before allowing Washburn 52 second-half points. The Panthers maintained their 10-point lead most of the game.
Wagner sat about six minutes when she picked up her fourth foul just three minutes into the final half.
The physical contest featured 73 free throws attempted by the two teams.
Carlie Wagner finished with 34 points, but received plenty of help. The Dagger canned 15 of 18 free throws.
Schultz bombed in three triples in the second half and finished with 18 points. Schultz also led NRHEG with five assists.
Maddie Wagner and Marnie Wagner both nailed a couple of triples. Maddie hustled her way to 16 points and Marnie chipped in with eight.
The Panthers shot 39 percent from the floor. NRHEG hit 8-24 triples and canned 27 of 41 free throws.
Chase Coley, a 6’4” future Iowa Hawkeye, was dominant the entire game, pouring in 49 points. Lucia Reinikoff flipped in 11.
The Panthers outrebounded the taller Washburn squad, 41 to 33.
Schultz and Overgaard snapped down eight rebounds apiece, Marnie Wagner snared six boards and Lundberg and Maddie Wagner grabbed five caroms apiece. Overgaard blocked three Washburn shots.
NRHEG was guilty of 15 turnovers, three more than Washburn.
“It was a very physical game. Washburn is very deserving of its top 10 ranking in AAA,” said Schultz. “I’m very proud of how our kids stepped up and rose to the challenge once again.”
NRHEG travels to United South Central tonight, a team it defeated 80-19 earlier.
Winless Faribault BA comes to town Tuesday.
The Panthers play at Albert Lea next Thursday.