New Richland's height advantage over Southland proved to be a key factor in its 39-24 win over the team on Friday.

The benefit came in the way of the Panthers' top two leading scorers for the game. Mike Holopeter (13) and Dusty Davis (12) contributed 25 of NRHEG's points. The two also played an important role defensively for the team.

"Holopeter and Davis are two pretty big guys," said Rebels coach Greg Storey. "It's tough to go inside with that kind of height, but defensively, they (NRHEG) played us very tough, and that meant most of our shots on the basket were contested."

Southland trailed through all four quarters, but kept the contest within five points during the first half, going into the break being down only 15-10. The Panthers held the Rebels to five points or less for the first three quarters, and allowed nine Southland points in the final quarter.

Adam Nagele led the team in scoring with seven points, Scott Gilles netted five, while teammates Curt Wilson and Tim Felten each contributed a three-pointer.

Southland will take its 2-2 overall and 1-1 conference record into the final round of the home tournament on Saturday, when it will face Chatfield, who lost to Hayfield on Friday.

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Field-goals -- Southland 5-24, NRHEG 15-33. Free-throws -- Southland 5-10, NRHEG 7-10. Three-pointers -- Southland 3-21, NRHEG 1-5. Rebounds -- Southland 27, NRHEG 30. Turnovers -- Southland 11, NRHEG 10.