From staff reports

NEW RICHLAND – The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys’ basketball team held off a second-half rally by visiting Montgomery-Lonsdale and won 69-64 Monday night.

Tuesday, February 12, 2002

NEW RICHLAND – The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys’ basketball team held off a second-half rally by visiting Montgomery-Lonsdale and won 69-64 Monday night.

A 9-for-10 effort from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter helped preserved the win for the Panthers. They were 15-for-22 for the night from the stripe.

&uot;We got off to a good start early,&uot; said coach Matt Eppen. &uot;We did a good job keeping our composure and knocking down free throws in the fourth quarter.&uot;

The Panthers led 23-13, 36-25 and 46-40 at the breaks.

Zak Tracy and Isaiah Lundberg paced the Panthers with 20 and 19 points, respectively. Bjorn Peterson had seven points and 10 rebounds, Mike Hullopeter nine points and eight rebounds.

The Panthers were 25-for-54 from the floor, including 4-for-9 on three-point baskets. Montgomery-Lonsdale was 3-for-7 on threes, 27-for-54 overall from the floor and 6-for-9 at the line. The Panthers had a 36-26 edge on the boards.

The Panthers, 6-11, return to Gopher Conference play at Medford tonight.