For the third time this season, the NRHEG girls’ basketball team beat Maple River.

Maddie Wagner scored a team-high 16 points and Marnie Wagner added a double-double to lead the Panthers past the Eagles 60-48 in the Subsection 2AA South quarterfinals at New Richland.

NRHEG (14-11, 9-3 Gopher) was the No. 3 seed, and Maple River (7-18, 4-8 Gopher) was the No. 6 seed. After beating the Eagles by 28 and 16 points in the previous two matchups, Monday’s matchup was the closest game between the two teams.

“Anytime you get to the playoffs, it’s always great being the underdog,” said NRHEG coach Onika Peterson about Maple River. “We were up by 12, and they went on a run, playing like they had nothing to lose. We need to refocus on Waterville, learn from tonight and move on.”

NRHEG’s Anna Stork and Gretchen Ramaker posted eight points each, and Kayley Camerer scored seven.

Next, the Panthers will play Waterville-Elysian-Morristown (18-8, 8-4 Gopher), the No. 2 seed, at 7:45 p.m. Thursday at Mankato East.

The Bucs and Panthers split the regular-season series. NRHEG won 60-51 on Jan. 9 at Waterville, and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown won 64-53 on Feb. 6 at New Richland.