Bielke and Firle combine for 51 to lift MVL to win

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NICOLLET -- With 10 seconds remaining and the score tied at 87, Minnesota Valley Lutheran junior guard Andy Beilke took the inbound pass and raced upcourt, hoping to find an open teammate in time for an attempt at a last second shot.

However, Beilke recognized that it was he who was the open man as he raced through the Nicollet defense and scored on a layup with three seconds remaining to give MVL the 89-87 nonconference boys basketball win Tuesday.

"Usually things at the end of the game are pretty chaotic," Beilke said. "I was just going to bring it up, and if I had an open guy I was going to dish it off. But [Nicollet guard Tony] Hulke came up on me and then just kind of let me go and I had the wide-open layup."

Beilke's game-winner was his 29th point of the night. He also caused problems in Nicollet's backcourt as he had five steals.

"I anticipate the ball," Beilke said. "When guys come up, I like to jump them, and that usually throws them off a little bit. They get excited with the ball and I can get in there. Otherwise I anticipate the ball the best I can."

Hulke, who tied the game at 87 with 12 seconds, had a chance to be the hero. After taking the inbound pass with three seconds remaining, he passed to Mike Rosin, who then flipped it back to Hulke.

The three-point attempt drew iron as the final horn sounded, giving the Chargers the win in a wild game that featured two technical fouls and an intentional foul.

"I think [the high scoring] is typical of both teams," MVL coach Craig Morgan said. "They've got some ability and some people who can score. Both teams were a little physical, but in the end it was a good game."

"We're only 15 miles apart and the kids know each other," Morgan said. "It's just a fun game to play against each other and its a good, friendly rivalry."

Nicollet jumped out to a 9-2 lead, but the Chargers eventually got things rolling offensively and mounted a comeback. Back-to-back baskets by Hulke gave the Raiders a 37-33 lead in the second quarter, but Dustin Lendt's three-pointer before halftime gave the Chargers a 48-46 lead. Hulke finished with 27 points.

"Both teams came out and played really hard," Nicollet coach Kory Kettner said. "They battled and we battled, and you can't ask for anything more."

Jacob Firle's layup gave the Chargers a 56-54 lead in the third quarter, and Nathan Nass hit both free-throws after Kettner's technical to make it 60-54.

Firle scored 22 points and had four assists.

Beilke's jumper gave the Chargers a 79-73 lead in the fourth, and another three-pointer for him made it 82-75, giving MVL its biggest lead of the night.

Nicollet's Jeff Zimmerman responded on the ensuing possession with a three-pointer of his own. Zimmerman finished with 18 points and hit three three-pointers.

Hulke's free throw made it 87-85 with under a minute to play, and after a Charger turnover, he tied it with 12 seconds left before Beilke's game-winner. Jamie Mettler scored 10 points and had 16 rebounds for the Raiders.

Nicollet committed 19 turnovers compared to 16 for MVL.

"In a tight game like this, you can't be throwing the ball away," Kettner said. "Every possession is just too valuable to be turning the ball over when a game is that close."

MVL hosts Cedar Mt./Comfrey Thursday while Nicollet hosts Maple River Friday.

MVL (89)

Lendt 5, Lange 0, Nass 34, Firle 22, Beilke 29, Thiesfeldt 6, Holzhueter 2, Harpestad 1, Peterson 6, Struck 5, Shoop 4.

NICOLLET (87)

Hulke 27, Lassen 12, Rosin 12, Zimmerman 18, Mettler 10, Nourie 6, Dierenfeld 2, Wilking 0.