NRHEG to state title game

Minneapolis - N.R.H.E.G. girls basketball will get the chance to defend its state title! Carlie Wagner set the career state-tournament scoring record in Friday night's win.

Williams Arena, University of Minnesota - The New Richland- Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls basketball team battled four trouble early and got big points from the Wagner trio to beat Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 87-58 in the state AA semifinals. The Panthers will play for their second straight state title Saturday at 2:00 at 'the Barn.' Radio coverage can be heard on AM 1390 KRFO and at www.krforadio.com.

Carlie Wagner passed Janet Karvonen to become the all-time leader in state tournament scoring, currently with 335 points over the last three state tournaments. Karvonen, of New York Mills, established the record in the late 70's - 1980 over four state appearances. Wagner has averaged 42 points over eight state tournament games. Wagner also moved to #2 on the all-time scoring list in Minnesota girls basketball history, passing Tayler Hill of Minneapolis South. Only Rebekah Dahlman (Braham graduate) has scored more.

Carlie Wagner scored 41 on Friday. Her younger twin sisters, Maddie and Marnie, added 13 and 12 points, respectively. Paige Overgaard had 15 rebounds in addition to eight points. Jade Schultz was mostly a "decoy" Friday night said coach John Schultz, due to the defense employed by the Lakers. But she contributed nine rebounds.

Early foul trouble to the Panther starters led to some significant minutes in the first half for Anna Stork, Gretchen Ramaker and Kelli Harrington. Ramaker scored six points and Harrington added four.

The Panthers extended their winning streak to 60 consecutive games and are 30-0 on the season. The only longer winning streak for girls basketball was Fosston's 78 game winning streak from 1999-2002.

Coach John Schultz: