Raiders rally falls short against MVL: Nicollet nearly comes out on top

after trailing by 20 points late in game

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Although the Nicollet Raiders play their games in the Valley Conference, it could be said that their greatest rival currently is just to the west of them on Highway 14.

Nicollet came out firing in the first quarter, but Minnesota Valley Lutheran outscored the Raiders 42-16 over the next two quarters to take a seemingly commanding 49-29 lead after three quarters.

But the Raiders went back to the outside and hit five shots from 3-point range, and the lead slipped to three.

Jeff Zimmerman's desperation shot at the buzzer fell short and the Chargers hung on for a 62-59 win.

"I just turned around and saw the hoop and fired it and just hoped it went in," Zimmerman said. "It just didn't work out."

While Zimmerman was the hero in the first half with 12 points and nearly the hero in the second with 12 more, it was Tom Dierenfeld's shooting from 3-point land that carried the Raiders back from the huge deficit.

"We really moved the ball well in the second half," Dierenfeld said. "I mean, they're a good defensive team and they really buckled down. We tried to get it going -- gambled -- and they went in.

"We all get up for these games," Dierenfeld said. "We just had to come back and just got fired up."

After the game, Zimmerman was pleased with the way his team showed poise late in the game.

"It's been a rivalry for a couple years now, and every year it's just been a couple points game.

"We were just playing to get it close into single digits and make it look respectable," Zimmerman said. "We had a chance in the end, we just couldn't do it."

The Raiders went up 10-4 on Zimmerman's 3-pointer and led 13-7 after one.

"We knew we had to come in and shoot the ball well because these guys are tough," Zimmerman said. "They play up in your face and its just tough to get your shots off."

But the MVL defense turned it up in the second and third quarters and forced turnovers. Andy Beilke had consecutive baskets to tie it at 13, but Zimmerman's three put the Raiders up 20-15.

Dustin Lendt's putback as time expired gave the Chargers a 24-22 lead.

The Chargers went on a run in the third quarter, highlighted by Beilke's layup off the steal and Nate Nass' 3-pointer. Then, Beilke hit a 3-pointer and scored again off a turnover, giving MVL a 41-29 lead. Beilke led MVL with 23 points.

"We came in and talked in the pregame about turnovers," Zimmerman said. "We came in and turned the ball over, and you can't win games when you do that."

"We played better defense and we took care of the ball," MVL coach Craig Morgan said. "The third quarter I liked especially because we played some good defense and we took care of the ball. We didn't force passes, force shots, and that's what we gotta do in the next couple of games."

Ben Ziesemer's jumper gave the Chargers a 49-29 lead after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, Dierenfeld rattled off consecutive threes and Jamie Mettler's jumper made it 49-39. Nass ended the 10-0 run with a basket, giving MVL a 51-39 lead.

Two more threes from Dierenfeld cut the lead to 59-54, and after a pair of MVL free throws, Zimmerman hit another three to make it 61-57 MVL.

"They shoot the ball well from the 3-point arc, and that was one of our keys in the pregame was that you gotta defend Zimmerman," Morgan said. "He can shoot, and he's not afraid to shoot. We didn't defense that well when we had the 20-point lead."

Beilke missed a couple of free throws late, and Nicollet had a couple of shots to tie it, but Jamie Metter missed from the top of the key and the Raiders were unable to get an open shot on their last possession.

"We all get pumped for this game -- it's a big rival," Dierenfeld said. "They're good guys, and we really enjoy playing them."

Dierenfeld scored 15 for Nicollet and Mettler scored 12 and grabbed 10 rebounds. Beilke led the Chargers with eight steals and Nass had seven rebounds. Nicollet had 18 turnovers compared to only nine for MVL.

Nicollet (18-6) is at Maple River in Mapleton Friday while MVL (20-5) is at Cedar Mountain in Morgan Friday.