“It was a defensive battle,” NRHEG coach Pat Churchill said, summing up Thursday night’s Bethany Holiday championship game against Maple River.

The NRHEG boys’ basketball team won a hard-fought game, and moved to 7-0 on the season with a 55-50 win.

“This was a great game between two pretty good teams,” Churchill said. “We have so much respect for (Maple River). To finally beat them after two years, I am so proud of these kids.”

NRHEG was down four at halftime, thanks in large part to 10 points from Maple River’s Cole Sohre in the first half.

But then the Panthers ratcheted up their defense.

“I felt the key for us was when we held (Maple River) to five points for the first nine minutes of the second half,” Churchill said.

The Panthers turned a four-point deficit into a 42-34 lead. Maple River would get to within one, but NRHEG would hit its free throws at the end to preserve the win.

Chad Agrimson led the Panthers with 16 points, including back-to-back threes in the second half that gave his team an eight-point lead. Tyler Raimann had 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocks, and Oakley Baker finished with 14 points.

NRHEG will return to the court after the New Year with a Tuesday home game against Kenyon-Wanamingo.