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December 29, 1999
Loyola paircombinefor 45 todown MVLBy PAUL DUNLAP Journal Sports Editor MANKATO -- Too much Josh Cantres. Too much Jon McCabe. The guard tandem for the Mankato Loyola boys basketball team combined for 45 points Tuesday night, lifting the Crusaders to an 80-68 win over Minnesota Valley Lutheran in opening-round action of the 1999 Bethany Holiday Tournament in Mankato. Cantres, a 6-foot senior, led Loyola with a game-high 23 points, with 5-foot-9 junior McCabe scoring 22, including four 3-pointers. "They (Loyola) have some good shooters," Charger coach Craig Morgan said. "That McCabe, he shot the eyes out of the bucket tonight. We knew he could shoot, but he really shot well tonight. We weren't big enough under the boards as well." Cantres would get things started for the Crusaders as he exploded for 10 first-quarter points. If he wasn't hitting a 3, he was penetrating and making things happen with his ability to shoot or dish. "That (penetration) hurt us," Morgan commented. "We didn't sink down deep enough and rotate on defense well enough, and they were able to get some easy baskets off of it. They're a good ball team." Cantres' second trey of the quarter gave Loyola its largest lead of the half at 19-11, but MVL would respond with seven of the final nine points in the frame to pull within 21-18 after the first eight minutes. "We tried to come out and pressure them right away," Morgan said. "Their guards were able to get through there pretty quickly, but when we brought it back later on (in the game) it seemed to work a little better for us." The Chargers would take a brief one-point lead early in the second after buckets from Tom Metzger and Dan Unke, but another Cantres 3-pointer regained the advantage for Loyola. The game would be tied three times through the quarter before an 8-0 Crusader run to end the opening half. The third quarter would be one in which Loyola answered everything MVL threw at it. The teams continued to trade baskets throughout before a free throw and bucket from Jesse Pfeifer pulled the Chargers within 57-53 after three. "We were able to get some decent looks at the basket," Morgan said, "but it seemed that every time we got close (Loyola) would pull away again a little bit." Baskets by Jon Beilke and Unke knotted the game early in the fourth before McCabe answered with a trey. MVL would tie the game yet again, at 62-62 with 4:23 left, but Loyola had the answer ... McCabe. His second 3-pointer of the quarter spurred a 9-0 Crusader run to gain a commanding advantage before he put the game away with a 4-for-4 performance from the free-throw line. "We just couldn't get over the hump," Morgan said. "Every time we got the game tied, McCabe would come up with another big shot." Pfeifer led the Chargers with 18 points and nine rebounds. Justin Ohm scored 14, Unke added 12, and Beilke contributed 10 to the well-balanced effort. In addition to Cantres and McCabe, Noan Nelson scored 17 for Loyola. MVL (3-2, 3-1) will face St. Clair in a consolation bracket game at 8 p.m. today LOYOLA 21 16 20 23--80 MVL 18 12 23 15--68 LOYOLA (80): Cantres 23, McCabe 22, Nelson 17, Ariens 8, Rotchadl 6, Schwamberger 2, Lund 2. MVL (68): Pfeifer 18, Ohm 14, Unke 12, Beilke 10, Metzger 7, Wendland 3, Mielke 2, Lohmiller 2.
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