Girls Basketball: No. 2 NRHEG too much for No. 5 Goodhue

Fifth-ranked (Class 1A) Goodhue faced off against second-ranked (2A) New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva in a turnover-filled game Saturday at Carleton College in Northfield and fell 67-49 to the Panthers.

The Wildcats and NRHEG each committed 20 turnovers in Saturday’s game.

“I would say turnovers were part of the story for us,” Goodhue head coach Josh Wieme said. “And although we forced New Richland into 20 as well, it seemed like when we turned the ball over it led to a basket or a run out for them. We didn’t take advantage of it the same way.”

Minnesota Golden Gophers recruit Carlie Wagner finished with a game-high 29 points for NRHEG in the win. Maddie Wagner had 14 points and Paige Overgaard scored 12 points. The Panthers made 9 of 22 3-pointers.

Mikayla Miller led the Wildcats (19-5) with 19 points, 11 rebounds and five steals but also had six turnovers. Kali Ryan scored seven points and Meredith Watson provided 10 points and 10 rebounds.

“Meredith Watson continues to play really, really well,” Wieme said. “She was definitely a bright spot for us in the loss.”

Goodhue shot 33 percent from the field, including 5-for-23 from behind the 3-point line in the loss.

“We did an alright job, I thought, of attacking their 1-3-1 press,” Wieme said. “We got a lot of good looks we just didn’t make them. One thing is we’ve got to do a better job, some of those shots were point blank and they’ve got to be made. Sometimes you don’t shoot well but sometimes you need to you’ve got to take advantage of the good shots you have.”

NRHEG (22-1) led 32-18 at halftime and after the Wildcats cut the deficit to eight points with around 12 minutes left in the second half, the Panthers responded with two 3-pointers, a steal and a layup to quell Goodhue’s momentum.

“That was the last time we threatened them,” Wieme said.

The Wildcats will take on Kasson-Mantorville Tuesday in Kasson.

Tags: girls basketball, sports, prep, goodhue