Triton puts an end to Panthers’ playoff run

By Rick Moe | Albert Lea Tribune

Published Friday, March 13, 2009

AUSTIN — The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys’ basketball squad gave a strong first half showing against the Triton Cobras but couldn’t sustain the play for a full game as they went down 66-46 Thursday in its Section 2AA playoff game at Austin High School.

The first half ended with the Panthers only down by three.

“We had way to many turnovers in the first half,” NRHEG head coach Brian Riley said. “I was really satisfied to be only down by three going in at the break.”

The Panthers found themselves down by as much as eight in the first half, but fought back to within one point with less than a minute to go.

Colton Theimann, for the Cobras took an inbound pass and drove the ball down court to hold off for one last shot. With only seconds left it appeared that he was going to go for 3 as he stopped short of going across the 3-point stripe.

Theimann did not stop his dribble though and with a quick step he took the ball strong to the hoop scoring two points just as the buzzer sounded ending the first half giving the Cobras a 30-27 advantage.

The Panthers found themselves in a very similar situation earlier in the season when they upset Faribault’s Bethlehem Acadamy in similar fashion as they went in at the half only down by three and they were able to get a substantial lead and hold off a push at the end to win by a couple.

But it was not to be a repeat of that game as Triton came out strong and built a steady lead in the early minutes of the second half.

“Their defensive pressure was just too much for us,” Riley said. “We just were not able to maintain the same intensity and scoring like we did in the first half.”

The Panthers had only one player in double figures in the game as Keith Billings had 11 points.

Cory Camerer and Tyler Firme each had eight points in the contest.

The Panthers graduate four players from this year’s squad but Riley looks forward to next year.

“The seniors never gave up this year,” Riley said. “An 11 win season wasn’t what they had in mind but we have a good core coming back next year.”

Triton 66, NRHEG 46

NRHEG 27 19 — 46

Triton 30 36 — 66

NRHEG scoring: Brett Hagen 4, Payden Peterson 4, Tyler Firme 8, Greg Ramaker 4, Cory Camerer 4, Hunter Eustice 2, Darrin Schulenberg 2, Keith Billing 11.

Triton scoring: Zach Osborn 9, Coleton Thiemann 20, Logan Spitzack 6, Pat Haltvick 6, Dillon Wright 2, Damon Andrews 14, Dylan Bungum 2, Garrett Schaefer 5, Jaden Petersen 2.

---

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?

---