Charger spurt saves game

MVL comes from

behind to beat Blue Earth Area in OT

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

MANKATO -- Just as the buzzer sounded at the end of the third quarter, Blue Earth Area's Jon Monson connected on his third three-pointer of the game -- his 27th point of the night -- to give the Bucs a 43-32 lead over Minnesota Valley Lutheran.

However, MVL got a wake-up call from coach Craig Morgan, and the Chargers decided they wanted to extend their season by at least one more game.

The Chargers outscored the Bucs 17-6 in the final quarter and forced the game into overtime. MVL hit some big free-throws in the extra session and won 59-55 Thursday at Mankato West in Section 2AA, West Sub-section boys basketball action.

"Coach was furious and he had every right to be," MVL's Jacob Firle said. "We came out and we were not playing the way we were capable of. Everybody looked like we were half-dead out there, but it was a gut check.

"He asked us if we want to win this or end our season, and we looked around and said we weren't going home," Firle said.

The Chargers wanted to come out big on Monson, and Nathan Nass defended him early on. Eventually, Firle ended up guarding Monson. But it didn't matter who he faced, as Monson brought a deadly game from both inside and outside. He finished with 33 points.

"We didn't know what to expect coming in," Firle said. "We came out, and he got hot, and sometimes when that happens there's not much you can do about it. He was hot tonight, and it didn't matter who was in his face. He was burying everything."

Firle gave the Chargers the early lead on a putback, but the Bucs led 11-10 after one and 23-21 at halftime. Brian Baumann's basket with one second remaining gave the Bucs the lead going into the break.

The Bucs went on a 6-2 run to start the second half, and Monson got hot late in the quarter as he hit two shots from three-point range.

In the fourth quarter, the momentum changed as shots the Bucs made in the first three quarters missed in the last quarter. Consecutive baskets by Firle, a basket by Nass, and another Firle basket made it 47-43 Blue Earth Area.

As they have all season long, Firle and Beilke carried the Chargers the rest of the way as Firle scored eight points in the last quarter and Beilke hit his free-throws late. Beilke went scoreless in the first quarter, but ended with 14.

"I think in the first quarter, I was kind of lost," Beilke said. "In the second quarter, I decided to run a pick-and-roll with Firle. He runs the pick-and-roll well, and I was getting my jump shot, but it just wasn't going in. It started to fall in the second half."

With the score tied at 49, Firle's last-second shot missed, sending the game to overtime.

Nass gave the Chargers a 53-50 lead in overtime, and three straight Buc misses on their next possession gave the Chargers a chance to extend their lead. A pair of free-throws by Beilke gave MVL a 55-50 lead.

"I was surprised [I wasn't nervous out there]," Beilke said. "I thought I'd be tense, but when I got up there, I knew they were going in."

Monson hit another three to make it 57-55, but Beilke hit two more from the line for the final 59-55 margin.

"We did not come out and play very good offense the first three quarters," Morgan said. "The first half was frustrating for us. We didn't know what to do to get them started. Finally in the fourth quarter we got a chance to get some scoring."

MVL improves to 21-6 and moves on to face St. James in the sub-section championship at 8 p.m. Monday at Minnesota State University's Bresnan Arena in Mankato.