Chargers advance to championship

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

MANKATO -- Nicollet nearly erased a 13-point halftime deficit as Minnesota Valley Lutheran hung on for a 61-58 win Monday at the Bethany Lutheran College Holiday Tournament.

The win puts the Chargers in the championship game against Mankato Loyola tonight at 8:30 p.m.

Jamie Mettler scored 21 points and Jeff Zimmerman also scored 21, including three 3-pointers in the second half.

The Chargers jumped out to a 15-8 lead after Andy Beilke hit three free throws. Dustin Lendt's putback gave the Chargers a 17-8 lead, and Lendt and Beilke hit threes to close out the quarter to give the Chargers a 23-11 lead after the first quarter.

The Chargers used an up-tempo style to tire out Mettler and to avoid letting Nicollet get a half-court offense flowing.

"We tried to keep the ball away from him and tried to up-tempo game," MVL coach Craig Morgan said. "But they came back and Zimmerman did a real nice job for them and we couldn't keep up."

In the second quarter, Jason Costello hit a 3-pointer and made good on the free throw after he was fouled, giving the Chargers a 31-17 lead. MVL led 37-24 after two quarters. Beilke scored 12 points in the first half, including nine from beyond the arc.

"It was nice to see Andy hit," Morgan said. "Andy hasn't hit in a while. It was good for us to get a game from him, because we count on him each game and he did that tonight."

Nicollet stepped up offensively in the third quarter and attacked the MVL defense. The Raiders were able to get down the floor and find Mettler open underneath the basket. Mettler scored eight points in the third quarter and Zimmerman started hitting shots from the outside, nailing two 3-pointers on his way to a 10-point quarter.

"We knew what they were going to do, and we couldn't stop them," Morgan said. "It's kind of disappointing when you draw it up and you talk it up, and we did not get our weakside guys to where they were supposed to be."

The Raiders cut the lead to 37-31 on a Mettler basket, but Nate Nass' 3-pointer put the Chargers up 46-33. Mike Nourie brought Nicollet back to within six with a basket, and the Chargers led 50-44 after three.

Zimmerman's 3-pointer in the fourth tied it at 54, but Beilke's layup gave MVL a 57-54 lead.

Mettler's putback brought Nicollet to within one at 59-58, but the Chargers hit free throws late to hold on 61-58.

Lendt scored 16 points and Beilke scored 15 for the Chargers. Nass scored 13.

MVL (5-0) plays at 8:30 p.m. tonight against Loyola for the championship and Nicollet meets New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva at 6 p.m. in the South Gym for third place.

Other Games

Maple River 52, St. Peter 34

MANKATO --Adam Burman scored 14 points and Josh Evan scored 13 to lead the Eagles over St. Peter at the Bethany Lutheran Holiday Tournament.

Noah Germo scored nine for the Eagles (4-2)

St. Peter was led by Josh Orpen's 14 points.

Maple River plays Cathedral at 6:30 today in the North Gym for the consolation title.

St. Peter plays LCWM at 8 p.m. for seventh place.

Loyola 77, NRHEG 68

Bret Brielmaier scored 26 points and Truc Ho scored 21 to lead Mankato Loyola past New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva in semifinal action at the Bethany Lutheran Holiday Tournament.

John Michaletz scored 13 for the Crusaders.

Zack Tracy scored 25 points to lead the Panthers and Jacey Reese scored 14.

Loyola (6-1) plays MVL at 8:30 today for the championship and the Panthers meet Nicollet.