By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
It was a great way for the NRHEG High School boys' basketball team to start a seven-game road trip.
The Panthers, according to coach Dan Schmidt, took another step forward defensively while winning 58-52 at Kenyon-Wanamingo Thursday, Dec. 14. It was NRHEG's first win in three tries.
"The improvement we've seen in three games is so great," said Schmidt. "Defensively, this was a total team effort. The guys really seem to be taking more and more pride in our defense."
Offensively, the Panthers had good balance, with three players reaching double digits in scoring.
Jackson Chrz led the way with 25 points, including three three-pointers and a breakaway dunk. Will Tuttle notched a second straight double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Daxter Lee also kicked in a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, to go along with five assists. Greyson Schaefer turned in another great effort off the bench with five big points in the second half, and seven rebounds. Sam Olson added three points, and Jordan Brouwers rounded out the scoring with two.
"I can't say enough about the way these guys have played the last two games," said Schmidt. "We got down by 3-4 points with around eight minutes left in the game, and we never panicked. We regained the lead, and protected the basketball and hit our free throws down the stretch. It feels so good to come out of this game with a win against a good team like Kenyon-Wanamingo. It was a great way to start this stretch of road games!"
The Panthers played perhaps their best first half of the season at Randolph Friday, Dec. 15. But things went south in the second half.
The Panthers, who led 30-25 at halftime, couldn't keep pace with Randolph and dropped a 77-61 decision.
According to Schmidt, the Panthers came out ready to play and led the entire first half behind strong defense.
"Randolph is a very athletic team that spreads the floor and likes to shoot the three," said Schmidt. "That strategy got to us in the second half."
The Rockets sank eight three-pointers in the second half while outscoring the Panthers 52-31.
"We struggled with their pace of play, as well as their spacing, and found ourselves not closing out as strongly as we have this year, or earlier in the game," explained Schmidt. "We just couldn't seem to be consistent with our ball movement and player movement on offense," said Schmidt.
NRHEG's Daxter Lee led all scorers with 37 points to go along with 5 rebounds. Chrz had 8 points and 8 rebounds, Tuttle 8 points and 4 rebounds. Rounding out the scoring for the Panthers was Olson with 3, before being sidelined with an ankle injury, Schaefer 3, and Jared Lee 2.
"We're also hoping to get rid of the injury bug, as we now have three players sidelined with various injuries," said Schmidt. "The timing of Christmas break is welcomed in hopes of getting everyone healthy."
The Panthers finish their pre-holiday schedule Friday, Dec. 22 at 7:15 p.m. at United South Central. They play in the Bethany Holiday Tournament in Mankato Dec. 27-29.