NRHEG sports

A pair of 14-game basketball winning streaks were snapped Saturday. The Owatonna boys fell to Rochester John Marshall 62-46. NRHEG lost at Redwood Valley 63-61.

The NRHEG boys' basketball team wrapped up at least a share of the Gopher Conference title with their 77-55 win over Blooming Prairie Friday night. The Panther girls did the same thing with their 61-54 victory at Maple River on Saturday. Each team will look for the outright title this week.

Local sports highlights for 2017 include many athletes that have moved on to college sports with great success. OHS graduate Andrew Stelter wrapped up his four-year career with the Gopher football team as a senior helping the team transition to a new coach. Carlie Wagner-a two-time state champ at NRHEG-is currently in her senior season with the Gophers, leading the team in scoring, hoping to play in the NCAA tournament for the first time. OHS grad Peter Jones is one of the low scorers each time out with the Gopher golf team.

The Blooming Prairie boys' basketball team won a thriller over Maple River Friday night at BPHS 62-61 when Jake Ressler hit a three-pointer with three second left. Coach Nate Piller said the Awesome Blossoms had more than 15 second to run their offense after the Eagles had hit free throws to take the lead.

The local winter sports season or 2016-17 was wildly successful. Owatonna sent three times to state last winter and both NRHEG basketball teams appeared at state.

The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys' basketball team improved to 5-0 on the season with a 58-43 win over Triton in Dodge Center Tuesday night. The Panthers play at Waterville-Elysian-Morristown (2-4) Friday night. NRHEG coach Pat Churchill said on Saturday's coaches show that the Panthers haven't won at Waterville during his time as coach.

A nice playoff run ended for NRHEG volleyball Tuesday night 3-0 to No. 2 seed St. Clair in the Section 2A, south subsection semifinals. The scores went 25-19, 25-11, 25-22. NRHEG (11-17, No. 6 seed) had beaten Springfield in the first round and upset No. 3 seed Alden-Conger in the quarterfinals.

The semifinal round of the section football playoffs unfold Saturday. Owatonna hosts Austin at 7PM on KRFO AM 1390. Triton entertains Lewiston-Altura at 7PM on KDHL AM 920. Blooming Prairie travels to Rushford-Peterson at 7PM on Kat Kountry 105 FM. NRHEG plays Maple River in Mapleton at 7PM. All four are rematches of regular season games.

No. 6 seed NRHEG upset No. 3 Alden-Conger 3-2 Thursday in the Section 2A, South Subsection quarterfinals. NRHEG advances to semifinals at St. Peter High School with a 25-19, 15-25, 25-20, 21-25, 15-8 victory. The Panthers will see No. 2 seed St. Clair Tuesday at 7:45PM.

LeSueuer-Henderson scored fairly late in the second quarter for a 20-6 lead over New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva in their Section 2AA quarterfinal football playoff game. The Panthers made a dent in the deficit before halftime and took the lead late in the third on their way to a 36-23 win, their second in 11 days against the Giants.