A sluggish start cost the Park Rapids boys basketball team in a 69-40 loss to New York Mills at the Century School gym on Thursday, Feb. 18.

This game was added to the schedule when a Mid-State Conference game between the Panthers and Crosby-Ironton was canceled on Friday (Feb. 19) because of COVID protocol at Crosby-Ironton.

New York Mills jumped out to a 22-7 lead as the Panthers managed only two baskets by Parker Harmon and a 3-pointer by Isaiah Olson in the early going. After Noah Morris hit two free throws to make it 22-9 with 7:27 to play in the first half, the Eagles closed the half with a 17-1 run to carry a 39-10 advantage into the break.

Nick Michaelson opened the second half with a pair of inside baskets, Harmon and Olson scored on layups, Mason Yliniemi hit a 3-pointer, Michaelson scored off a rebound, and Logan Jackson hit a jumper. The Panthers still trailed 53-25 with 8:59 to play. Three-pointers by Morris and Olson made it 53-32 with 6:20 remaining, before New York Mills responded with a 15-2 spurt to put the game away. James Hartig concluded the scoring for the Panthers with a pair of 3-pointers.

Olson and Harmon combined for 16 points for the Panthers, who fell to 2-7 on the season.

Newsletter signup for email alerts

Tate Olson (19), Brock Hensch (12) and Jonah Johnson (11) scored in double figures as New York Mills improved to 8-2.

NEW YORK MILLS: Noffinger 2 3-5 7, Olson 7 5-6 19, Gaudette 3 0-2 6, Johnson 4 3-6 11, Landitch 1 4-8 6, Hensch 6 0-0 12, Gilster 1 0-0 2, Rudolph 0 1-2 1, Koskitalo 2 0-0 5. Totals: 26 (FG), 16 for 29 (FT).
PARK RAPIDS: Hartig 2 0-0 6, Morris 1 2-2 5, Van Batavia 0 0-0 0, Olson 3 0-0 8, Harmon 3 2-7 8, Yliniemi 1 0-0 3, Phillippi 0 0-0 0, Jackson 2 0-0 4, Michaelson 3 0-1 6, Walsh 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 (FG), 4 for 10 (FT).
Halftime: New York Mills 39, Park Rapids 10. Three-pointers: Kostkitalo 1, Hartig 2, Morris 1, Olson 2, Yliniemi 1. Team fouls: New York Mills 10, Park Rapids 24. Fouled out: Michaelson.