Chad Agrimson got the NRHEG boys off and running in Thursday night’s Class AA state basketball consolation semifinal at Concordia of St. Paul.
Oakley Baker finished it off.
Baker, a 6-5 senior, totaled a game-high 22 points as NRHEG blasted Breckenridge 65-47.
NRHEG (29-3) will face Lake City (24-7), which defeated Jackson County Central 62-41 in the other consolation semifinal, at 2 p.m. Friday at Concordia for the consolation championship.
On Thursday, it was almost all Panthers. After Agrimson hit his opening basket, they went on to lead 18-4 behind hoops by Benji Lundberg, Tyler Raimann, Baker, Jason Jongbloedt and Jack Schultz. It was 30-19 at halftime.
The Cowboys converted to start the second half, but that’s as close as it would get as NRHEG continued to build its lead the rest of the way.
Both coaches emptied their benches in the final minute.
NRHEG coach Pat Churchill had to be happy with his defense for allowing only 47 points against a team that averaged 75 for the season.
Baker was 7-for-11 shooting from the floor, 3-for-6 on threes and 5-for-5 at the free-throw line before exiting the game late with a head injury, the extent of which is not known.
Raimann attempted only three shots, finishing with four points, three assists, three blocks and five rebounds.
Lundberg, who hit the tying three-pointer a night earlier to send the Panthers to overtime, finished with three points and six assists.
Jongbloedt scored 12, Chad Agrimson nine, Brady Agrimson three, Schultz three and Carter Fischer two for NRHEG.
As usual a large, loud NRHEG faithful was there.