Friday, January 4, 2013

Boys basketball Program takes three wins from CNE

The New Richmond Boys basketball team defeated CNE Friday night by a score of 70-42. Leading the way for the Lions were Junior John Ernst with 15 points, Junior Caleb Hayward with his first career double double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, Josh Heiden with 12 points, and Evan McKinley with 12 points. The Lions played great team basketball and had a very balanced scoring attack. The Lions travel to Hughes on Tuesday night. The Lions JV team won by a score of 65-34. The Lions were led by Frankie Taulbee with 15 points, JD Durham with 12 points, and Isiah Young with 10 points. The Lions Freshman team won by a score of 49-22. Zak Walton scored 14 points, and the Lions had a very balanced scoring attack.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Buckingham commits to Minnesota

New Richmond junior center Josie Buckingham will become a Golden Gopher after graduation in 2014.

“I committed to the University of Minnesota today,” Buckingham said Jan. 2 after leading the Lady Lions to a 56-19 win over Roger Bacon.

Buckingham, who is 6 feet 5, averages 16.8 points, 12.8 rebounds and 4.0 blocks for the Lady Lions. She also considered UC, Iowa and Virginia Commonwealth.

“When I visited there I felt like I fit in very well and I really loved the coaches and the team and how they ran their program,” said Buckingham, a 4.0 student who plans to major in pre-med.

 “It’s a very good school and they have a good Med school which I can look forward to after undergraduate.”

Buckingham and her mother, New Richmond Hall of Fame player Liz Misheff, visited the University of Minnesota last fall and Golden Gopher coach Pam Borton’s staff followed that visit up with multiple trips to New Richmond to observe Josey.

“It’s a great opportunity and a good fit for her and it puts New Richmond on the map as a place that develops basketball players,” said Lady Lions coach Brad Hatfield. “The Big Ten plays a defensive, grind-it-out type of game that uses a true post player and that suits Josey because that’s what she’s been doing here for 2 ½ seasons.”

Borton, who is in her 10th season at Minnesota, has guided the Golden Gophers to a Final Four, three Sweet Sixteens, six NCAA Tournament appearances and three seasons of 25 or more wins. Minnesota is 11-3 this season.

“Coach Borton will be following Josey’s progress this season via my Twitter account (@nrhatfield),” noted Hatfield.

Lady Lions Win Big

The Varsity Girls basketball team won big at home vs. Roger Bacon last night, final score 56-19. On the day of her verbal commitment to the University of Minnesota, Josie Buckingham scored 17 points and grabbed 18 rebounds. Josie was supported by guards Bailey Workman and Maren Hance who contributed 9 points each while applying key perimeter defense. Tina Lawrence added 8 points and 5 rebounds. It was a good win to begin 2013 in preparation for a tough schedule the rest of the season starting with a road game at CNE tonight at 7:30.