Lori Gronvold/PCT RIGHT:?Rugby High School senior guard Darby Deckert shoots in a home win over Benson County on Dec. 11.

With the return of junior guard Shea Heidlebaugh, the Rugby High School girls are rolling with two straight wins to improve to 4-2 overall.

RHS avenged a loss to Harvey-Wells County in the CNDC championship earlier this month by beating the Hornets 58-52 Tuesday on the road.

H-WC senior 6-footer Alecia Koropatnicki scored a game-high 27 points, but the Panthers presented a more well-rounded scoring attack led by Ashley Schmaltz. The junior scored a team-high 12 points (official scoring was not reported). Heidlebaugh added 11 and senior Darby Deckert had nine points.

On Dec. 11, the Panthers beat neighbor Benson County 50-37. In Heidlebaugh’s first action of the season following a nagging shoulder injury, she poured in a game-high 22 points.

The game started quick for both squads with RHS leading 18-14 after the first quarter. The Wildcats managed just four points in the second quarter and RHS led by 11 at the half.

Deckert added 14 points in the win and junior Ashley Schmaltz added 8. The Panthers made 8 of 11 free throws. Courtney Bubach, Kaylee Lybeck and Dani Schwanke led BC with 8 points each.

– Tribune Staff Report