The Blue Earth Area girls basketball team just couldn’t compete with the No.2-ranked Class 2A New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Panthers at their matchup on Thursday, Feb. 17.

The Panthers had a power source that seemed to propel them to an easy win. The game ended with a score of 54-17.

The Bucs managed to scrounge up seven points in the first half of the game but that just wasn’t enough to keep up with the 30 points brought in by the Panthers.

After half, the Bucs worked hard but only scored an additional 10 points.

NRHEG on the other hand soared ahead, scoring 24 points in the second half.

Krista Hassing scored six of the 17 points for the Bucs. She also had four rebounds.

Taylor Grandgenett also contributed six points to BEAs score.

The girls in maroon and gold were only 3 for 25 with their two-point shot attempts. They also attempted seven three-pointers, but were not successful in making any of those shots.

They had 16 opportunities at the free-throw line. They managed to sink 11 of those.

The Panthers’ Carlie Wagner was the driving force in the game, scoring 27 points for her team.

NRHEG made 15 of 27 two-pointers, 6 of 7 three-point shots and 6 of 9 with their free throws.

The Bucs played the St. James Saints on Friday, Feb. 8. That was played after the Register deadline so the results will be featured in the next issue.

BEA?will host the Maple River Eagles on Tuesday, Feb. 12.