Win over Loyola important for No. 1 Chargers

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Minnesota Valley Lutheran boy's basketball coach Craig Morgan said that the key to the Chargers' 66-63 win over defending Class A basketball champion Mankato Loyola in the Bethany Lutheran College Holiday Tournament was team defense.

"Defensively, the team did what we asked of them," Morgan said. "It took more than one or two players to do it. It was the starting five and the players off of the bench."

Morgan said that his team tried to contain Truc Ho, and not let him penetrate.

It was almost a carbon copy of what Sleepy Eye St. Mary's did to Loyola. Both of the Crusaders' losses this year have come from teams in the Tomahawk Conference.

"We kept rotating a couple of players (Dusty Lendt and Grant Holzhueter) off of him," Morgan said. "We would then front (Loyola center Bret) Brielmaier.

"Their offense centers around both Brielmaier and Ho, while our offense uses all five players," he said. "But they also like to go up and down the floor -- they press all the time. We did not press but we got out on the (fast break) real well."

Using all five players is something that may well be the strength of the Chargers this year.

"This may be our most balanced team that we have had here in a while," Morgan said. "We have three guys (Andy Beilke, Nate Nass and Lendt) who each have scored in double figures in all of our games except (against Loyola). All of our guys can score."

Brielmaier held Nass to six points in the game at BLC.

"It was a good defensive effort against Loyola," he said. "This tournament really helps us out -- we can work game-situations three games in a row."

Now 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the Tomahawk Conference, Morgan feels that the win over Loyola will not only help his team's confidence but also will help with the seedings later in the season. The Chargers are ranked first in the state in Class 2A by Minnesota Basketball News.

"It will be big. It was a nice win for us confidence-wise; now our guys know that we can play with anyone," Morgan said. "We have a big part of our (Tomahawk Conference) schedule this week -- it does not get any easier this week."

MVL hosts Wabasso Tuesday, Sleepy Eye St. Mary's Thursday and Cathedral on Saturday.

Morgan feels that Lendt has been playing well this season.

"Everybody focuses on Andy Beilke and Nate Nass but Dusty comes up and does a nice job playing defense for us," he said.

Morgan said that if his team beats both Wabasso and St. Mary's he would not be surprised.

"This team had a couple of good mental tests this week," he said. "This is a good cohesive group that works together."

EAGLES HAD TOUGH SCHEDULE: The New Ulm Eagle boy's basketball team has had two tough games recently, playing both Albert Lea and Mankato West.

"They both are good teams but I think that West is deeper than Albert Lea and did beat them," Eagle coach Pat Burmeister said. West is currently ranked first in the state in Class 3A.

"We knew that they would press -- we got down 17-0 right away," Burmeister said.

And handling the press has been something that has bothered the Eagles this season.

"It is hard to simulate the kind of pressure that we see in games. The kids ... need to recognize the defense and take advantage of what they are doing," he said. "They are trying to take away the reversal and players are open down the floor. We need to be patient and take care of the basketball."

MIELKE LEADS EAGLES: Burmeister knew that junior Tony Mielke would be the Eagles' top scorer this year.

Mielke netted 19 points in the loss to West, following up a 30- point performance against Jackson County Central.

"We need to find another scorer. Mikale (Gustafson) is shooting the ball well and need to find him more shots," Burmeister said. "We want to get the ball in the paint to Tony -- he can also creates his own shots and can rebound well. We need more balance scoring."

The Eagles play at Fairmont before hosting Blue Earth Area on Friday.

Burmeister expects Fairmont to be tough, but feels that his team may have an advantage over BEA.

BLETHEN LIKES TEAM'S EFFORT: Cathedral boys basketball coach Bailey Blethen said that he was "happy with the way that they came back after a big loss to Mankato Loyola. They showed some heart and won two games after the loss."

Blethen feels that the two wins are a sign of a team that is maturing.

"We only have one senior (Cody Fox) on the varsity. These kids have experience, but they are also young," Blethen said. "We are mostly relying on the juniors, but we have two younger players in the post in (freshman) Mike Schwarz and (sophomore) Ryan Bauer.

"Adam Hoffmann has also done a great job coming off of the bench for us and has played several positions for us," he said.

Blethen felt that the Greyhounds executed their half court offense well.

"It was sloppy earlier in the year," he said. "We are also doing a better job in our half court defense.

"I am not happy with our rebounding yet," he said. "This team is not big enough to win games if we do not rebound. Rebounding is an effort thing -- you have to want the ball more than the other guy."

Cathedral hosts Sleepy Eye St. Mary's on Monday.

"They have a lot of talent," Blethen said. "That will be a test for us."