Lendt's play gives defenses fits

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Going into his senior season at Minnesota Valley Lutheran, Dusty Lendt looked at himself as a third weapon in a potent offense that returned Andy Beilke and Nathan Nass from a year ago -- two of MVL's top three scorers a season ago.

But Lendt has managed to surprise not only himself, but opposing defenses as he too has developed a scorers touch and gives the 9-1 Chargers yet another option.

"I've learned to get open and to rely more on my teammates," Lendt said. "I'll go set a pick for another guy to get him open. I think we're playing real good team ball -- I think better than last year."

Lendt attributes his new found confidence to his game against Mankato Loyola in the championship game of the Bethany Lutheran Holiday Tournament. Lendt scored 22 points -- a total he's matched three times this year -- and helped the Chargers hand the Crusaders their second loss of the season.

"I think my confidence level really grew when we played Loyola," Lendt said. "I guess I realized a lot more that I could play -- I always thought that Andy Beilke and Nate Nass were way better than I was, but I guess that made me realize that I can play up to their ability."

His coach, Craig Morgan, is also surprised how well he's played and said the Bethany summer league was also beneficial to the development of his offensive game.

"His confidence came over the summer, and throughout the season he began to get more confident in what he can do," Morgan said.

Lendt, who enters Friday's home game with McLeod West averaging 15.6 points per game and 5.8 rebounds, said he and his teammates worked on a number of things this summer to improve.

"We played the Bethany tournament together," Lendt said. "I think that helped a lot. We lost Jake Firle. He was our big guy. We don't have a lot of size, so we had to learn to play with what we got. I think summer ball helped a lot. I worked on my dribbling, I worked on post-up moves and the other guys did too.

"We just didn't sit around," Lendt said. "We all like to play ball -- we'd come and play open gym here. I think that helped out a lot."

Morgan said that a third threat helps the Chargers if they want to go far in the post-season. Lendt averaged 7.8 points last season, and Morgan has seen an increased confidence level in his guard.

"I think his athleticism has really been prominent in what he does," Morgan said. "He's helped our game and his quickness has really improved. He can do things out on the floor that last year he seemed to hold back last year and this year he's stepped up.

"He's looked to shoot more and score more than he did last year, and I think he's just getting stronger," Morgan said.

MVL's only loss came at the hands of Sleepy Eye St. Mary's, ranked No. 2 in the latest Class A poll. The loss came after wins over Loyola and Wabasso -- two teams that entered the season ranked in the top 10.

Although Lendt and his teammates were disappointed in the loss, they all know it will be better for the long run and it was a learning experience. Morgan said that he also expects Lendt to continue to work hard and his defense will be counted on.

"I expect him to give 125 percent each night," Morgan said. "With his athleticism, his team speed, his defense, he needs to help us out, especially with the defense and the rebounds. When we get eight to 10 rebounds from him, I look for us to win ball games."