In the first round of the Section 1AA boys’ basketball tournament, Southland eliminated New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva from postseason play 57-33 on Monday.

“It’s always tough when it ends,” NRHEG head coach Pat Churchill said. “I thought for 28 minutes tonight, our kids played a heck of a ball game.”

The Panthers trailed by only six points (34-28) with seven minutes left in regulation.

That’s when Southland’s Michael Goergren took over, Churchill said. Goergren scored a game-high 21 points.

NRHEG was led by sophomore forward Kevin Kallis. Kallis earned a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

“He is such a big kid, they (Southland) had a tough time guarding him in the low block,” Churchill said. “They played mostly zone in the second half, because they struggled to cover him. He took such big steps this year as a player.”

Senior guard Nic Mangskau added seven points.

Two graduating seniors will depart he Panthers: Mangskau and Jonny White.

“Our kids gave everything they had, and I’m proud of them,” Churchill said.

NRHEG finished the season 6-19 overall, 3-11 in the Gopher Conference and 0-9 in Section 2AA-South.