HERSHEY—Boys on the Gothenburg basketball team like to push the tempo, keeping the game moving quickly.

They also like to be the ones to control the speed.

Swede coach Roger Koehler said Hershey pushed the pace Friday night but Gothenburg’s defense was able to contain the Panthers and keep them from getting too many breaks.

That tight defense and free throws in the closing seconds of the game led to Gothenburg’s 42-36 victory.

“They had us a little out of control to begin with,” Koehler said. “We were forcing passes and throwing the ball away.”

It didn’t take long to settle in and when the man-to-man defense clamped down on the Panthers, offensive confidence rose.

“To hold a team like Hershey to 12 points in the first half is great,” Koehler said.

Gothenburg was up 6-4 after one period and had a 19-9 advantage when Hershey hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to close to 19-12.

“We had a decent lead but you always assume a team like Hershey will score better in the second half,” Koehler said.

They did. Hershey came out firing in the third and continue to chomp away at the Swedes.

Koehler said with about a minute and a half to play in the game, the score was tied 36-36.

“Last year, we would have never won a game like that,” the coach said.

This year was different.

The Swedes fed the ball to Logan Koehler in the lane for a two-point lead.

Hershey put up a shot at the other end that banked off and Alix Meisinger came down with the rebound and the foul.

He sank the pair of free throws to put Gothenburg up four with 36 seconds to go.

The same thing happened again on Hershey’s next possession only this time Brett Dockweiler came down with it.

Dockweiler made both and the game was over.

Logan Koehler finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds while Korey Ahlenstorf had nine points and 10 rebounds.

Free throws made the difference, the coach said, as Gothenburg made 12-of-15 and Hershey hit only 7-of-15.

The Swedes move to 2-0 on the season as they travel to Southern Valley Thursday to take on the 1-1 Eagles.

“They will probably press us, make or miss,” Koehler said, “and try to force the tempo just like Hershey did. We’re going to have to keep up the defense and take care of the ball.”

Gothenburg hosts Perkins County (1-1) on Saturday afternoon.

The Plainsmen, Koehler said, like to run and gun as well. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.