- Details
- Hits: 210
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.
- Details
- Hits: 227
By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
The NRHEG boys played some great basketball when Waterville-Elysian-Morristown came to town last week.
They just didn't quite play enough of it.
The Panthers could not maintain a five-point halftime lead, struggling in the second half on the way to a 57-43 Gopher Conference setback in New Richland.
The Panthers started slowly, with four early turnovers leading to a 9-0 WEM advantage, but they went on a 15-6 run to tie it at 15. It was back and forth the rest of the first half, which saw NRHEG leading 28-23 at the intermission.
The second half started much like the first half, but this time the Panthers could not rally.
A big part of it, according to NRHEG coach Dan Schmidt, was turnovers and shot selection.
"We continue to have issues protecting the basketball, and with ill-advised shots," said Schmidt.
But it wasn't all bad.
- Details
- Hits: 204
By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
With two key rivalry games, NRHEG girls' basketball coach Onika Peterson is looking forward to a fun week for the Panthers.
So far this season, every week has been fun.
The Panthers improved their season record to 11-1 Friday, Jan. 5 with a 70-47 victory at Kenyon-Wanamingo. NRHEG led 30-22 at halftime.
According to Peterson, the Panthers prevailed despite not playing their best basketball.
"It wasn’t our prettiest game of the year, but I was proud of the girls' grit and effort in the second half," said Peterson. "They cleaned up some of the turnovers from the first half and seemed to be more locked in."
The Panthers were led in scoring by Camryn VanMaldeghem with 21 points. She also added five assists, three rebounds, two blocked shots and a steal.
Two other NRHEG scorers reached double digits. Presley Nielsen had 13 points, 5 rebounds, a block and a steal, Kylie Olson 12 points, 8 rebounds and 1 block.
Others: Faith Nielsen 2P, 4R, 2A; Quinn VanMaldeghem 7P, 11R, 3A, 3S; Izley Boerner 2P, 1R, 3A, 1S; Hallie Schultz 7P, 7R, 4A; Addy Stadheim 4P, 6R, 1S; Ezra Boerner 2P, 1A.
Coach Peterson was particulary pleased with the Panthers' performance on the boards.
"We continue to consistently rebound well, which allows us great second and third-chance shot opportunities," she said. "It's always interesting coming back from the holiday break and readjusting to school and everything that comes with it. We have a couple rivalry games this week with conference foes WEM on Tuesday and home against Hayfield on Thursday. It should be a fun week."
The Panthers, 4-0 in Gopher Conference play, host JWP Tuesday, Jan. 16 and travel to Blooming Prairie Jan. 19.