By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
If you watched the pregame warmups in last Thursday's girls' basketball game between highly-touted Hayfield and NRHEG, you got the feeling it could be a long night for the Panthers. The Vikings didn't miss many shots.
It was the same way once the game started as Hayfield bolted to a 43-20 halftime advantage en route to a 75-59 decision in New Richland.
Hayfield, 15-2 overall and 4-0 in the Gopher Conference East, led by as many as 29 points in the first half.
"We put ourselves in a big hole in the first half being down by 23," said NRHEG coach Onika Peterson.
But it wasn't all the Panthers' fault.
"Hayfield could not have had a better first half," said Peterson. "They shot the ball extremely well with (Natalie) Beaver having 20 points in the first half alone. We got in a little bit of foul trouble and struggled offensively."
Despit that, Peterson was pleased with the Panthers' attitude in the second half.
"I am extremely proud of the team and their grit and guts that they showed in the second half," she said. "These are the games that they are going to remember. It is not fun to lose, but the effort and heart they put in the second half says a lot about this team and what we will accomplish this season."
Faith Nielsen led the Panthers in scoring with 23 points, adding 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. Quinn VanMaldeghem contributed 14 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals.
Also: Izley Boerner 3P, 1R, 2A; Hallie Schultz 2P, 5R; Camryn VanMaldeghem 7P, 2R, 4A, 1S, 2 blocked shots; Addy Stadheim 2P, 3R, 2A; Paige Nielsen 5P, 1R 1A; Kylie Olson 2P, 1R.
Coach Peterson said it was a good learning experience for the Panthers, who fell to 12-2 overall.
"I told the girls we are going to learn more from this loss than we would by beating someone by 40," said Peterson. "We have a couple of tough weeks ahead."
The Panthers, 3-0 in the Gopher Conference West, hosted JWP Tuesday. They play Friday at Blooming Prairie, Monday at home against TCU and Tuesday, Jan. 23 at Maple River.