MANKATO — Two numbers summed up the NRHEG girls’ basketball team’s win over Tri-City United: 33 and 34.

Carlie Wagner led the Panthers with 33 points in the first half, and Tri-City United scored 34 points in the entire game.

The Panthers dominated the Titans 87-34 Thursday in the Subsection 2AA semifinals at Mankato East High School.

However, NRHEG didn’t pull away early. The Panthers led 27-18 but added a substantial cushion with a 36-3 run to close out the first half.

“Our girls just decided to turn it up a notch after a timeout,” said NRHEG head coach John Schultz. “Our defense made some nice adjustments after the slow start to slow down their offense. I’m proud of our efforts tonight.”

Carlie scored a team-high 39 points, a game total that eclipsed Tri-City United’s team total, just as it had during the regular season when the Panthers and Titans met on Feb. 18. In the regular-season matchup, Carlie scored 46 points and NRHEG won 94-37.

Jade Schultz mimicked the Feb. 18 meeting where she had 17 points and 12 rebounds by producing another double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Carlie’s sisters, Maddie and Marnie, combined with 14 points.

“The twins and Jade are capable of a lot of offense,” coach Schultz said. “Our first option for big games in the playoffs is definitely Carlie, and if they can slow her down, they’ll get to see the rest of these kids contribute.”

Everyone on NRHEG’s roster played, and all but one Panther scored.

Coach Schultz said his team has room for improvement, but he’s happy with how they’ve played in the postseason.

Each stat line was lopsided in NRHEG’s favor. In addition to the score, the Panthers out-rebounded the Titans 41-23 and won the turnover battle 24-11. NRHEG had more than twice as many shot attempts from the field. Aside from the stats, the crowd at Mankato East’s gymnasium was also lopsided in favor of the Panthers, which is something coach Schultz said he enjoyed.

NRHEG, the defending Class AA champion and No. 1 ranked team in the state, will face a more formidable opponent at 8 p.m Monday in the Subsection 2AA finals: Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.

The Bucanneers (19-9 overall, 10-4 Gopher Conference) have won eight of their last 11 games.

However, the Panthers swept them in the regular season series with a 75-39 home win on Jan. 14 and an 83-48 road win on Feb. 11.

None of the other teams in Section 2AA are ranked in the state polls. Norwood Young America (20-5 overall, 12-2 Minnesota River Conference) will play Jordan (20-5 overall, 14-2 Minnesota River Conference) in the other Subsection 2AA final. Norwood Young America won both regular season contests.

Despite the lack of ranked teams in its section, NRHEG played its share of ranked opponents during the regular season. En route to their 26-0 record, the Panthers beat No. 2 Class A Mountain Iron-Buhl, No. 2 Class AA Kenyon-Wanamingo and No. 4 Class AAA Minneapolis Washburn.

Statistics are in the Scoreboard: March 6 post.