MVL girls edge out Wabasso

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- The Minnesota Valley Lutheran girls came out on top of an aggressive game against Wabasso, 67-65, in conference play Monday.

In a game in which both teams committed many fouls, the scoring went in spurts.

"There was a lot of shoving -- hard play," said MVL coach Dave Biedenbender. "You get that when two aggressive teams play each other. But the girls are ready to play that game if they have to."

Katie Schumacher, Wabasso's leading scorer with 18 points, started off the scoring, and pulled Wabasso into their first lead of the game. MVL came back to lead for a brief moment when Jessica Merseth stole the ball and fed it to Danielle Kramer down court. Wabasso pulled ahead again, only to have the lead closed by a three pointer from Merseth, followed by another Merseth basket off of a rebound.

Just before the quarter ended, Andrea Fennern made a steal and sunk a half court shot to put Wabasso ahead 15-12.

Wabasso came out with another spurt in the second quarter, leading by four for the first several minutes, until a steal by Lisa Peterson, a basket by Merseth, and another steal by Kramer, with a shot by Peterson put MVL ahead. But Wabasso again took over, and ended the half with a seven point lead, 36-29.

Biedenbender said that his girls had some troubles in the first half getting past the full-court Wabasso defense.

"We were ready for it -- we knew what was coming," he said. "But the girls were too anxious to get through it. It took us a while to find the seams."

Even in the middle of a tied third quarter, the Wabasso defense was strong, and the MVL girls were called for 10 seconds, unable to cross center court.

With the MVL girls frustrated, Wabasso came back with a steal and a bucket by Jessica VanLoy to make it 48-46 Wabasso to end the quarter.

The Rabbits again pulled ahead in the fourth with their largest lead of the game when VanLoy sunk a three pointer to bring the score to 62-56. But in under a minute, MVL came back with a shot from Kelsey Black, a three by Rachel Olson, and a free throw by Merseth.

With 47 seconds left, Wabasso was up 65-62. Peterson made two free throws after VanLoy fouled out for Wabasso, and Merseth hit a jumper after breaking the press, to lead 66-65. Peterson hit one more free throw to make the winning score for MVL 67-65.

Merseth had sat out much of the third quarter because she was in danger with fouls, so she was able to see her teammates from the bench.

"I am so proud of them," she said. "The team stepped it up -- it was a total team effort. Two of our girls fouled out, so we even had two subs finishing the game."

Both teams had balanced scoring.

For the Rabbits, Schumacher's 18 points was backed up by VanLoy's 15 and April Fennern's 12 points.

Merseth led the Chargers with 18 points and five blocks, Kelsey Black had 13 points, and Rachel Olson had 11 points and six steals. Kramer also had five steals.

"These girls just have a lot of guts," said Biedenbender. "They said 'We have to play hard here,' they went after the ball strong, played tough, and never lost their composure. Guts and determination won it in the end."

Wabasso plays at the Adrian Tournament Saturday, Dec. 21, and MVL plays next at the St. Peter tournament Friday, Dec. 27.