NEW RICHLAND – If you could sneak a peek at coach Matt Eppen’s Christmas wish list, you’d probably find at least one item already checked off.

Saturday, December 22, 2001

NEW RICHLAND – If you could sneak a peek at coach Matt Eppen’s Christmas wish list, you’d probably find at least one item already checked off.

His New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys’ basketball team gave him a gift he’s sure to savor: a victory over perennial power Waterville-Elysian-Morristown. The Panthers stunned the visiting Buccaneers 43-37 in a Gopher Conference game at New Richland Friday night. The Bucs were No. 6 in Class 2A in the latest Associated Press poll.

&uot;I’m just proud of the effort these guys gave,&uot; said Eppen. &uot;They prepared hard this week and believed they could do it.&uot;

And they kept their composure.

&uot;In the second half, when things didn’t quite go our way, we stayed tough,&uot; said Eppen. &uot;And managed to pull it out at the end.&uot;

The Panthers led from the start, with scores of 16-9, 25-15 and 32-24 at the quarter breaks.

Dusty Davis had 10 points and six rebounds to lead a balanced attack for NRHEG. Bjorn Peterson had eight points and seven rebounds, Mike Hullopeter five points and nine rebounds, Zak Tracy five points and five rebounds. Kyle Utpadel and Isaiah Lundberg both scored six points.

Brian Volbrecht and Lance Warner led WEM with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Defense, according to Eppen, was the biggest factor in the game.

It was the Panthers’ first win over WEM since two-time Tribune Player of the Year Kyle Schlaak was a senior in the 1996-97 season.

The Panthers improved to 3-4 overall and 2-0 in the Gopher Conference while the Bucs fell to 5-2 and 2-1.