LADY PANTHERS — The 2024-25 NRHEG High School girls’ basketball team. Front row (floor) managers from left: Marnie Mullenbach, Lauren Johnson, Vivienne Schlaak, Jade Wyrum and Eva Buendorf. Second row, seated, from left: Izley Boerner, Gabby Schlaak, Quinn VanMaldeghem, Camryn VanMaldeghem, Chloe Stork and Ezra Boerner. Back row standing from left: Coach Kayley Camerer, Kenley Gehrke, Clara Buendorf, Kylie Olson, Savannah Farr, Alex Estrada, and Coach Onika Peterson.
Is this the Lady Panthers’ year?
VanMaldeghem twins return
VanMaldeghem twins return
Thu, 11/28/2024 - 12:30am
“We have a tough schedule this year and are excited to have some tough battles that we can learn from, hoping to continue to improve all season long so that we are playing our best come playoff time.” — Onika Peterson
The Lady Panthers’ basketball squad returns a young team this season.
The Panthers, 20-8 overall and 11-5 in the Gopher Conference last year, return a handful of athletes, including their two ‘MVPs’ the VanMaldeghem twins, Camryn and Quinn.
Both All Conference selections a year ago, Camryn tallied 488 points while Quinn, the defensive rock notched 82 steals while nabbing 243 boards.
Other returning athletes include Chloe Stork, who remained sidelined a majority of last season with injuries, Izley Boarner, Kylie Olson, Clara Buendorf, Savannah Farr and Ezra Boerner.
After losing in the Sub-Section Championship game in three consecutive seasons, what are the expectations of a group expected to start more than one new varsity player for the first time this season?
“They are competitive, athletic, and a fun group of girls,” NRHEG Head Coach Onika Peterson reports. “We are bringing back a couple of kids who played big minutes for us last year. This is a group that has some speed, rebounds and runs the floor well, and should cause some havoc on defense.”
Per the students making the leap from junior varsity, to varsity, Peterson says they should expect ‘big minutes.’
“We have a tough schedule this year and are excited to have some tough battles that we can learn from, hoping to continue to improve all season long so that we are playing our best come playoff time.”
The girls biggest weakness, per Peterson are a lack of numbers.
“Numbers across the state are down for girls basketball unfortunately,” Peterson stated. “A weakness would be losing kids due to sickness or injury.”
The Panthers look to replace three starters from a year ago, Hallie Schultz, Faith Nielsen and Preslie Nielsen. Schultz and Faith both were All Conference honorable mentions a year ago.
In order to succeed this season, Peterson says the girls must run the floor and play aggressive defense. The group needs to rely on their strengths, “Strong athletes, speed and athleticism.”
“Rebound and run the floor every chance we can, defensively we need to be smart but aggressive,” Peterson continued. “We have a solid core of returning athletes but are looking for who will be stepping into some holes that we still need to fill from last season.”
The Panthers have enjoyed success under Peterson, compiling an 11-year record of 169-104.
Peterson picks Hayfield or JWP as the conference favorite and Glencoe Silver Lake, TCU or JWP as the teams to beat in the section.
Peterson is assisted by Kayley Camerer (JV), and Betsy Schoenrock (Middle School/High School Assistant).
The Lady Panthers entire roster is comprised of no seniors, juniors: Gabby Schlaak, Quinn VanMaldeghem, Camryn VanMaldeghem, Chloe Stork. Sophomores: Izley Boerner, Clara Buendorf, Savannah Farr, Kylie Olson. Freshman: Ezra Boerner, Kenley Gehrke and Alexandra Estrada.
2024-25 NRHEG Girls’ Basketball
Nov. 22 vs. Triton, 7:16 p.m.
Nov. 26 at Fairmont, 7:30
Dec. 3 vs. Maple River, 7:15 p.m.
Dec. 5 at Medford, 7:15 p.m.
Dec. 13 at Maple River, TBD
Dec. 14 at Maple River, TBD
Dec. 20 at USC, 7:15 p.m.
Dec. 27 at Norwood-Young America, 12:30 p.m.
Dec. 28 at Norwood-Young America, 4 p.m.
Jan. 3 vs. Kenyon-Wanamingo, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 4 at Goodhue, 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 7 vs. WEM, 7:15
Jan. 10 vs. Hayfield, 6 p.m.
Jan. 14 at JWP, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 16 vs. Blooming Prairie, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 17 at Bethlehem Academy, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 27 vs. Medford, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 31 vs. USC, 7:15 p.m.
Feb. 3 at WEM, 7:15 p.m.
Feb. 7 vs. JWP, 6 p.m.
Feb. 10 vs. St. Clair, 7:15 p.m.
Feb. 13 vs. Alden-Conger, 7:15 p.m.
Feb. 14 at Tri-City United, 7:15 p.m.
Feb. 20 Section tournament, TBD
Feb. 24 Section tournament, TBD
Feb. 27 Section tournament, TBD
March 3 Section at Mankato, TBD
March 7 Section finals at Mankato, 8 p.m.