Grant Pope scored 21 points Friday, while Tate Harmon scored 16 as the No.2-ranked Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers boys’ basketball team defeated the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Panthers 74-36 in New Richland.

The Buccaneers jumped on the Panthers from the start as WEM jumped out to an early 27-1 lead and cruised into halftime with a 42-11 lead.

“WEM’s pressure was too much for us in the first half,” NRHEG coach Pat Churchill said. “Their roll-up press caused us to rush our passes and they have great closing speed that they got tips and steals.”

Evan Ferber led the Panthers with 13 points, while Hunter Eustice recorded seven points.

The Panthers play again at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday against Medford in Medford.

WEM 74, NRHEG 36

WEM 42 32 – 74

NRHEG 11 25 – 36

NRHEG scoring: Evan Ferber 13 points, Hunter Eustice 7, Matt Nafe 4, Tyler Sorenson 4, Carter Tollefson 4, Matt Nafe 4, Sam Lundberg 2, Matt Carlson 1, Spencer Hanna 1.