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The NRHEG girls basketball team traveled to MSU-Mankato Friday night to take on Glencoe-Silver Lake with a state tournament berth on the line in the Section 2AA finals. 

Despite falling in a hole early and trailing by as many as 19 points, the Panthers stormed back, pulling off the huge comeback to win 66-64. 

Head coach Onika Peterson said Glencoe-Silver Lake came out of the gates hot and hit some big shots to build that early lead, but credited her team’s never-quit attitude in the building of the comeback. 

“We had talked at a timeout what the two options were, giving up or fighting back,” Peterson said. “One of the best things about this group and this program, they will always fight back. They slowly chipped away at that lead and we went in at halftime down by four.”

After coming out of the halftime break, NRHEG used their momentum to outscore their opponents 38-32 in the second half to come away with the two-point win. 

Leading the team in scoring were Quinn and Camryn VanMaldeghem, with 23 points and 22 points, respectively. Also scoring in double figures were Gabby Schlaak and Kylie Olson, Schlaak with 10 points and Olson with 11 points. Quinn VanMaldegehm also led the team in a number of other stat categories with 14 rebounds, five assists and five steals. 

“The girls played one possession at a time,” Peterson said. “What an amazing experience. A huge comeback win to advance to the state tournament. This is a night that they will never forget. I know I won’t. I am so proud of these girls.”

The Panthers advance to the Class AA state tournament and will play in their first-round game against Providence Academy at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Williams Arena at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. 

 

Results

NRHEG 66, Glencoe-Silver Lake 64

NR  28  38 – 66

GSL  32  32 – 64

 

NRHEG stats: Gabby Schlaak 10 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist; Ezra Boerner 1 rebound; Quinn VanMaldeghem 23 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals; Clara Buendorf 3 rebounds, 1 assist; Camryn VanMaldeghem 22 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block; Chloe Stork 2 rebounds, 1 assist; Kylie Olson 11 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist