By Nathan Cooper, staff writer

AUSTIN &8212; Given the nature of NRHEG&8217;s defensive style, the Panthers generated more than enough offense to come out on top in their fifth subsection title game in as many years.

But New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva got caught in Triton&8217;s up-tempo style, falling behind by as many as nine points in the first half. It led to a losing uphill battle in the second half in a 74-66 loss in the Subsection 2AA East championship Friday at Austin&8217;s Packer Gymnasium.

The second-seeded Panthers finished the season at 19-9 while the top-seeded Cobras (20-7) move on to play the top seed from the west subsection, Maple River, for a state tournament berth.

&8220;We knew we could score on Triton,&8221; said NRHEG coach Brian Riley. &8220;They&8217;re not a lock-down defensive team. They gave us opportunities, we just couldn&8217;t get stops.&8221;

In his last high-school game, Brad Kruckeberg led the Panthers with 20 points, including three treys. Classmate Blake Kerkhoff scored 12 and sophomore Cory Camerer scored 11 in the loss.

Camerer scored six of the Panthers&8217; final nine points to keep the upset bid alive, including an off-balance field goal to pull the Panthers to within three with a minute to play.

Triton nailed two free throws and a three-point try by NRHEG bounced high off the iron and hit a cable, forcing a turnover. The Cobras hit one-of-two free throws on the other end before Kruckeberg gave the Panthers another shot of life by drilling a three-pointer, to draw the score to 69-66 with 28.2 seconds left.

A quick foul sent Triton&8217;s Logan Spitzack, a freshman, to the line. He comfortably drained the first shot before a miss allowed Garrett Schaefer to seal the game with an offensive rebound and a two-point putback.

Triton seized control of the game with an 11-0 run after the Panthers took the lead at 30-28. It was the last time NRHEG saw the lead. The Panthers closed the half on an 8-2 run and headed to the lockers trailing 41-38.

The Cobras shot the bonus less than nine minutes and converted 17-of-20 first-half attempts. Overall, Triton went 27-for-32 on the night from the line. NRHEG shot 13-for-17.

Those numbers reflected the Panthers&8217; biggest struggle, said Riley.

&8220;Our defense was the biggest problem,&8221; the first-year skipper said. &8220;It seemed like we just couldn&8217;t stop them, and if they missed a shot, it seemed like we were fouling.&8221;

The Cobras kept the lead throughout the second half, but Triton presented four separate occasions for the Panthers to either tie the game or take the lead in the closing minutes. Each time, Triton rejected the Panthers&8217; offense.

And every time Triton needed a clutch shot or offensive rebound, the Cobras got it. Twice in the final three minutes, Triton earned baskets via an offensive rebound.

&8220;We played into their hands way too much,&8221; Kruckeberg said. &8220;We allowed them to fast break and we tried fast-breaking too, and that&8217;s really not the way we play.&8221;

Along with Kerkhoff and Kruckeberg, NRHEG bids adieu to seniors Dakota Tracy, Andrew Harrington, David Lopez, Brian Bayerkohler and Al Wayne.

&8220;They showed a lot of heart,&8221; Riley said. &8220;Every night they came and fought and never gave up. I&8217;m really proud of them.&8221;

TRITON 74, NRHEG 66

NRHEG &8212; Brad Kruckeberg 20, Blake Kerkhoff 12, Cory Camerer 11, Keith Billing 9, Dakota Tracy 5, Darrin Schulenberg 5, Greg Ramaker 4, Payden Peterson 2.

TRITON &8212; Chace Sackett 19, Garrett Schaefer 18, Damon Andrews 12, Zach Osborn 9, Logan Spitzack 8, Daine Jensch 8.