NEW RICHLAND — Carlie Wagner scored 24 points Friday, while Kristina Cole chipped in 16 points as the No.1 – seeded New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Panthers girls’ basketball team eliminated the No. 4-seeded United South Central Rebels 64-44 from the Section 2AA girls’ basketball tournament.

Jade Schultz also scored 13 points for the Panthers.

The Rebels were led by Val Sahr, who scored 16 points and had eight rebounds.

Danielle Koestler scored eight points for USC.

The Panthers out-rebounded the Rebels 39-37, while the Panthers also shot 21-of-29 from the free throw line compared to 7-of-13 for USC.

“We drove hard to the basket and picked up a lot of fouls and shot 21-29 from the line,” NRHEG coach John Schultz said. “We had good aggressive offensive play.”

With the loss, the Rebels will lose six seniors to graduation.

Playing their last game for the Rebels on Friday were Val Sahr, Rachel Mattick, Danielle Koestler, Emily Krohnberg, Taylor Chose and Kayla Stenzel.

The Panthers move on to play on Monday at 6 p.m. at Minnesota State University in Mankato against the No. 3 – seeded Blue Earth Area Buccaneers.

Click here to see a photo gallery from the game.

NRHEG 64, USC 44

USC 22 22 – 44

NRHEG 31 33 – 64