Sam Lundberg helped the Panthers keep it close in the first half with eight points, and Matt Nafe nailed two key three-pointers.

Bobbie Stephens, who hit eight threes the last time the Panthers met Hayfield, was held to one three in first half.

The Stephens heated up in the second half as Stephens went 4-for-5 from three-point land to finish with 24 points.

“Every time we tried to make a run, he hit a big shot,” said Churchill. “I thought Hunter Eustice did a good job on him tonight. He chased him all over the court and played one heck of a game, but Bobbie is a great shooter; he didn’t have much space, but he got his shot off quickly and is deadly from the outside.”

Hayfield was 20-for-30 from the floor in the second half.

“I thought our defense was very good tonight,” said Churchill. “Their offense was just better.”

The Vikings were also 25-for-36 from the free-throw line.

“We had to be aggressive the last eight minutes, and we wound up fouling them too much and they hit their free throws to seal the win,” said Churchill.

Matt Carlson led NRHEG with 16 points. Lundberg scored 11, Eustice 10, Evan Ferber nine, Nafe eight and Tyler Sorenson four.

The Panthers will lose five seniors to graduation: Kyle Bayerkohler, Brian Billing, Eustice, Ferber and Nafe.

“I am extremely proud of how our kids played tonight and how hard they battled all year long,” said Churchill. “I told our kids to hold their heads up about what they accomplished this year. We had every opportunity to pack it in after a tough start, but these kids stuck together and turned their year around. These are good kids who work hard, and I was proud to be their coach this year.”