Senior nabs 797th career board as NRHEG basketball girls stay unbeaten

GAME BALL — Anna Schlaak was presented a trophy ball and received some words of wisdom from coach John Schultz after garnering her 797th career rebound last Tuesday, becoming the school’s all-time rebounding leader. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

Mark another milestone for the 2011-12 NRHEG girls’ basketball team.

Anna Schlaak, a senior, set the all-time school record for rebounds last Tuesday, just two weeks after sophomore Carlie Wagner topped the 1,000-point mark for her career.

The game? Oh yeah, the undefeated and No. 3 rated Panthers rolled 90-22 at Medford.

As when Wagner hit her milestone, the game was stopped and Schlaak was presented a trophy ball by coach John Schultz after pulling down her 797th career rebound. Schlaak is slated to play college volleyball in the fall.

The Panthers totally dominated the game, taking a 53-11 halftime advantage.

“We shot very well tonight and really spread the scoring around,” said Coach Schultz. “Our pressure defense worked for us and forced a lot of turnovers. Our bench played very well and scored a lot of points the second half. It was a great team win!”

NRHEG individual statistics: Carlie Wagner 22 points, seven steals; Jade Schultz 20 points, seven rebounds, five steals; Maddie Wagner 10 points; Katie Cole eight points, four assists; Abby Crabtree six points; Tori Raimann six points, four steals; Schlaak six points, six rebounds, four assists; Danielle Krueger five points; Raelin Schue five points, four rebounds; Hannah Lundberg two points.

The Panthers were 31-for-58 from two-point range, 6-for-16 on threes, Medford 3-for-27 and 2-for-7. NRHEG outrebounded the Tigers 30-16 and had 27 steals to the opponents’ three. NRHEG turned the ball over 11 times, Medford 38.

NRHEG’s B-squad won 55-20.

The Panthers had another cakewalk Thursday, winning 75-22 at Randolph. It was 39-11 at halftime.

“We hit the boards nicely, outrebounding them 53-20,” said Coach Schultz. “All 11 of our girls gave a great effort. We really hustled. We shot about 40% and got a lot of second and third shots on the offensive boards. It was another great team win. All 11 played and contributed a lot.”

Individually: Carlie Wagner 34 points, three steals; Schultz 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists; Maddie Wagner six points; Cole five points, eight rebounds, four assists; Lundberg four points; Crabtree four points, six rebounds; Schue two points, three assists; Schlaak 12 rebounds, four steals.

The B-squad won 62-24, also remaining unbeaten.

The Panthers ran their record to 13-0 overall and 6-0 in the Gopher Conference.

NRHEG hosts Maple River Monday. The Panthers play Thursday at WEM and host Mankato Loyola Friday. They’re at Bethlehem Academy Jan. 24.

Gopher Conference standings

NRHEG 6-0

United South Central 7-1

WEM 4-1

Blooming Prairie 4-3

Bethlehem Acaemy 3-3

Medford 3-5

Mankato Loyola 2-6

JWP 2-6

Randolph 0-5