MVL boys show depth, experience

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- The 2000 edition of the Minnesota Valley Lutheran boys basketball team is ready to go to print when they travel to Wabasso Friday to meet the Rabbits.

Last year, the Charers finished with a 19-5 overall mark and bring back an experienced team that returns three starters and will get help from a B-squad that posted a 22-0 record.

Key returnees for the Chargers is Dan Unke, who enters his senior season with 1,369 career points and a 17 points per game average. Unke, however, has an elbow infection and is out indefinitely. The Chargers hope to have him back around Christmas.

Two more players who averaged in double figures, Jesse Pfeifer (14.8 points a game) and Justin Ohm (10.8 ppg), are also back.

"We have a good group of players coming back," said Charger head coach Craig Morgan, who begins his second season at that spot. "We lost (point guard) Jay Wendland (now playing at MLC); he was a big loss. He was the quarterback of the team and handled that role well. Plus, we graduated Jon Ross, who played a role for us. But we gained all of the players from the B-squad."

And a lot of depth for this year's Chargers.

Putting a starting five on the floor for MVL is hard, not because of a lack of numbers but because of so much talent.

"Right now, we are trying to find a point guard to replace Jay (Wendland)," said Morgan. "But now our starting five would be Justin Ohm and Danny Liggett at guards with Tom Metzger and Jon Beilke at forwards and Jesse Pfeifer at center."

Ohm or Liggett along with junior Aaron Madson will be battling for the point guard spot.

"Tom Metzger has really done a nice job and improved over the summer. We also have a couple of juniors in Jon Beilke and Josh Detmann; Shawn Black is another one. It is hard to put one group down."

Morgan said that he has five players who can play the post spot in Pfeifer "who leads the way," Beilke "is strong inside. He is not very offensive but he plays a solid defense and is a smart player. He knows how to get into position."

Jason Lohmiller, Jacob Firle and Bryant Polzin can also fill the post spot. "We have those five that can just keep going in and out there. They each bring something different to the table; they are all strong."

This year, the strength of the Chargers will be their talent and depth. "We don't lose a lot when we go from one to our 12th player," said Morgan. "The practices have been very competitive and they take it to each other. I told the juniors not to back down to the seniors and to challenge them for the (starting) spots. The practices have been fun to watch."

Plus, sophomore Firle will also be a force inside.

"We have always been a (full-court) pressing team and we want to continue that this year," commented Morgan. "And our depth makes that easier to do. Our pressing is not a secret; it is something that we like to do and other teams know that we will do that."

Morgan said that this year's Chargers "do not have one single go-to guy. When Dan is healthy, he can score but we also have everyone on the team that can score."

Having that much talent but only one ball could cause problems with some teams. But Morgan believes that that will not be a problem with the Chargers this year.

"We have worked at that and we have talked about that a lot," said Morgan."The guys have been together and are a close group on and off the floor. Our chemistry is pretty good with this group of players."

If there is a weakness on this MVL team, Morgan feels that it will be their rebounding.

"We need to have all five players on the floor crashing the boards," he said. "Last year, we were either fourth or fifth in rebounding in the (Tomahawk) conference and I do not want to be fourth or fifth again. I don't want to see just our post players rebounding."

As far as goals for this year, the Chargers have set goals for the season. "We want to improve each game and keep doing that; we cannot look too far ahead."

In the conference, Morgan feels that Cedar Mountain, now co-oping with Comfrey, along with Sleepy Eye Public will be tough. "McLeod West is good; Springfeld returns some kids from a good team last year."

In the section, Mankato Loyola is a team to watch, according to Morgan. "And New Ulm Cathedral with (Will) Moeller and Joey (Schugel), and now Brandon Goblirsch in the middle, will be a strong team.

"We need to play some good, pressure defense in order to succeed."