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Sports from the week of December 22, 1999Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

49% shooting clip guns down MCC Rebels, 87-71

The Panther Boys Basketball Team won over Murray County Central Monday night at Slayton 87-71. The win improved their record to 2-2 and 1-1 in the 212 Conference.

"We played really well," said Panther Coach Jon Barsness. "We made the adjustments that we had to in the second half to be able to win the game."

"We played a 2-3 zone on defense starting in the third quarter," said Senior Ben Lightfoot. "That stopped their penetration, seemed to help our rebounding and improved our offense also."

MCC led 43-41 at intermission, but the Panthers blew away the Rebels with a 27-point third period. Six three-point shots in the second half fueled the explosion. For the game, the Panthers hit on 7 of 17 attempts from three-point range, three by Matt Loeslie, and two each by Derek Rignell and Pat Coquyt

Rignell led the Panther scoring with 22 points, followed by Jeremy Goltz had 18, Chris Gervais 11 and Lightfoot 10. Ten Panthers reached the scoring column.

"Chris (Gervais) got his first start and really played well, contributing 11 points," observed Barsness. "It was really quite an unusual game in as much as we had 19 free throw opportunities and they (MCC) had 39."

Illness, injury and foul trouble forced the Panthers to turn to their bench early.

The Panthers played without 6-7 junior post Nathan Clark, sidelined with illness. In addition, Goltz played less than half the game, after picking up a fourth foul early in the second period. Tony Lanoue, 6-5 junior post, was forced to sit down after spraining an ankle in the second period.


Panther wrestlers finish high at Willmar tourney

Panther wrestlers placed sixth out of eight teams in the Willmar Tournament held last Friday. The Panthers came away with four seconds, two thirds, one fifth and two sixth place finishes. Both Aldon Struchen and Aaron Goettig had to default in the finals due to injuries.

The team scores were: BDRSH, 187.5; Willmar, 162; Sauk Center, 161.5; Eden Valley-Watkins, 142.5; Benson, 127; Tracy-Milroy, 119.5; Robbinsdale Cooper, 105; Yellow Medicine East, 61.5.

"Some of the kids wrestled really well," said Panther Coach Joe Kemp. "We have improved a great deal so far this season. Our recent win over RRC/W-WG, a state ranked team in the class above us, was very big."

Flu, injuries deplete wrestlers

The flu and injury riddled Panther wrestling team lost to Dawson-Boyd Tuesday night at Dawson by a score of 54-21.

"We had six regulars out with either flu or an injury tonight," said Panther Coach Joe Kemp.

The loss dropped the Panther record in dual meet this year to 4-4.


Red Rock stops Panthers

Tracy-Milroy was the runner-up team in the girls' holiday basketball tournament held in Jeffers Friday and Saturday.

After nipping Worthington Friday, the Panthers fell to Red Rock Central Saturday.

Panthers 55, Worthington 53

Tracy-Milroy got off to a 20-14 lead in the first period and then out-scored the Trojans 17-8 in the second to take a 37-22 lead at intermission.

Worthington used a 19-9 scoring advantage in the third quarter to get back in the game and pull within 5 points at 46-41 at the start of the fourth quarter. The Trojans closed to within two points and got off a three-point shot as the game ended that could have won for them.

Marcia Ankrum led the Panthers in scoring with 15 points, Jenny Otto had 13 and Stephanie Welvaert 10.