It wasn’t easy, but somehow the NRHEG boys’ basketball team found a way to sneak out a victory Wednesday night over St. Croix Lutheran.

Three Panthers scored in double-figures and they took a six-point lead into halftime, keeping the Crusaders from making a run in the second half. NRHEG won 52-47.

“It was a hard-fought win for us,” Panthers coach Pat Churchill said. “Neither team led by more than eight points and both teams made runs during the game.”

Oakley Baker provided a first-half punch for the Panthers by scoring all 10 of his points in the half and Sam Prigge hit a triple to give his team a six-point lead heading into the locker room.

Benji Lundberg led the Panthers with 14 points, and he was a huge factor in the second half.

“(St. Croix) made a bucket with over a minute left in the game, but (Benji) came right back and got an and-one,” Churchill said. “I felt he really carried us, offensively. This was a great team win for us.”

Chad Agrimson had 12 points for NRHEG, including a layup off a steal with 30 seconds left in the game.

The undefeated (7-0) Panthers will play a conference rival, Maple River, in the tournament championship game at 8:30 p.m. tonight.