Defending champs return to the big show for third year in a row
STICK LIKE GLUE — Jade Schultz, left, and Carlie Wagner disrupt the Norwood-Young America offense during the Section 2AA title game at Mankato Friday, March 14. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
MANKATO – The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball team’s coaching staff were hoping for a fast start in Friday’s Section 2AA championship game.
The Panthers did not disappoint them. NRHEG raced to a 25-2 lead to start the game and cruised to an easy 70-36 triumph over the Norwood-Young America Raiders to capture its third straight section title and earn a shot at defending its state championship from a year ago.
NYA, which had won 16 of its last 17 games, finished its season with a 21-6 record.
NRHEG improved to 28-0 this year, winning its 58th straight game over the last two years.
The Panthers turned their 25-2 lead into a 39-11 advantage before settling for a 39-13 lead at the beak.Carlie Wagner scored NRHEG’s first nine points and pumped in 22 by halftime.
“We thought NYA might do some of the things Waterville-Elysian-Morristown had done to us the previous game so we were prepared for that,” said NRHEG coach John Schultz. “Our kids were on the floor and played very scrappy tonight. I think we had too many athletes for them.”
The Panthers stretched their lead to 55-19 in the second half as Jade Schultz buried three triples.
NRHEG outscored the Raiders 31 to 23 in the final half. NYA’s Kaylie Brazil had 15 of her team’s 23 second-half points.
NRHEG, which had shooting woes against WEM, knocked down 42 percent of its shots from the floor. The Panthers made 6-29 three-pointers and 8-11 free throws.
NRHEG shot 59 percent inside of the arc.
Carlie Wagner and Schultz easily outscored the entire NYA team.
Wagner ended up with 31 points and Schultz popped in 20, including four three-pointers. Wagner was a 13 for 30 shooter, while Schultz dropped half of her 16 shots.
Maddie Wagner chipped in with six points for the winners.
Carlie Wagner handed out five assists and Hannah Lundberg dished out another three.
Brazil topped the Raiders, scoring 21 of their 36 total points.
“We shot a lot better than Monday. When we can spread the other team out it gives Carlie a lot more room to operate,” said Schultz. “We have a lot of girls who don’t get the big numbers but have huge impacts on the game.”
NRHEG dominated the backboards by a 47 to 25 margin, including 25 to 13 on the offensive end. The Panthers had at least seven girls with five rebounds.
Schultz and Carlie Wagner snared eight boards apiece, one more than Lundberg.
Paige Overgaard, Maddie Wagner, Marnie Wagner and Ryann Hagen all pulled down five rebounds. All of Maddie Wagner’s boards were on the offensive end.
Overgaard blocked three NYA shots, one more than Anna Stork.
“Rebounding and defense are playoff basketball,” said Schultz. “Our team defense smothered NYA. We got our fast break going because of our defense.”
Carlie Wagner had four steals to spark the Panther defense.
“This is a great bunch of girls that really know and are proud of their roles,” said Schultz. “I was proud of our effort and the focus our girls had tonight.”
The Panthers were guilty of 13 turnovers in the game, one more than NYA.
NRHEG now heads to its third straight state tournament, where it has finished third and first the last two years.
The Panthers received the number one seed and will open the state tournament on Wednesday against unseeded Pequot Lakes.
The Patriots are the Section 8AA champs and 23-6 overall. PL has won eight straight and 13 of its last 14 games.
The first round-game will be played at Mariucci Arena at 2 p.m.
If NRHEG wins, it would play Friday at 6 p.m. at Williams Arena against the Minnehaha/Howard Lake winner.
The championship game is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. at Williams Arena.
Sect. 2AA Champ.
NRHEG 70, Norwood-YA 36
NRHEG 39 31 70
NYA 13 23 36
NRHEG (70): C. Wagner 31, Schultz 20, Mad. Wagner 6, Overgaard 4, Camerer 3, Lundberg 2, Stork 2, Harrington 2, Mar. Wagner 0, Hagen 0, Peterson 0, Ramaker 0. FG: 28-66 (42%, 6-29 3-pters.), FT: 8-11 (73%), PF: 20, TP – 70.
NYA (36): Brazil 21, Brinkmann 7, Stockman 6, Marschall 2. FG: 10-53 (19%, 1-12 3-pters.), FT: 15-19 (79%), PF: 15, TP – 36.