Northern Tier Sports ReportLIBERTY — NEB found themselves down early, but took control in the second quarter, and held NPL at bay the rest of the way to pick up a 63-54 win during NTL girls’ hoops action Thursday.
The Mounties led 19-17 after one, but a 19-point second quarter by NEB put them up 36-27.
The two teams were even in the second half scoring 27 points each.
Leah Beebe had 22 points, five assists, four boards, and five steals to lead the Panthers, while Mallorie Maynard notched 13 points, four rebounds, four steals, and three assists.
Kara Dughi had 15 points, five assists, four boards, and two steals, as Aurelia Kolesar notched nine points, seven assists, and six rebounds.
Katrina Russell chipped in with four points.
Haley Litzelman had 30 points to lead the Mounties.
Litzelman went off for 11 of her team’s 19 in the opening frame, while Beebe hit three 3-balls for NEB to keep pace.
In the second Maynard hit three 3-balls en route to 11 points as the Panthers took the lead.
It was a low scoring third with NEB getting the edge 10-8 behind six from Dughi.
In the fourth Litzelman had eight points to lead the NPL rally, but Beebe had two more of her five 3-balls, while Kolesar added five points, as NEB held on for the win.
NEB (14-2) will take their 13 game win streak back home on Saturday as they host Williamson with a 2:30 p.m. start.
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PHOTOS BY TINA MAYNARD
