Chargers stop Loyola

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

MANKATO -- With the score knotted at 57 in overtime, the Minnesota Valley Lutheran boys basketball team was looking for any edge it could get against Mankato Loyola.

Then, with 2:54 remaining, the Chargers got the late Christmas gift they wanted as Loyola All-State center Bret Brielmaier fouled out.

The Chargers, led by Andy Beilke's 10-point fury in the extra session, defeated the Crusaders 66-63 Tuesday night in the Pepsi Holiday Tournament at Bethany Lutheran College. The loss was only the second ever for the Crusaders in the six years of the tournament.

"It just feels good that the kids played as hard as they did and as well as they did," MVL coach Craig Morgan said. "The kids really really played hard and I'm proud of these kids."

Beilke led the Chargers with 23 points and played great defense on Loyola's Truc Ho in the extra period.

"Andy wanted the ball," Morgan said. "He's our go-to guy. He wanted the ball and he wanted the toughest defensive assignment, and that's a credit to him."

The Crusaders pounded the ball inside to Brielmaier often as he scored 22 points.

"When you take a guy that big and he fouls out with that good of a ballplayer, it's big for us," Morgan said.

Dustin Lendt scored 22 points for the Chargers, including a free-throw with less than 20 seconds remaining to put the Chargers up by three.

"We were ready. We were definitely ready for them," Lendt said. "We knew that they were the best team, and and we wanted to play a tip-top game tonight without any letdowns, and that's what we did. We went at them."

The Chargers were also focused on Truc's brother Trung Ho, who scored 12. Truc Ho scored 21 to lead the Crusaders.

The Chargers tightened defensively from the previous night and didn't allow the Crusaders to attempt a free throw until Trey Altenhofen was fouled penetrating the lane with 7:44 remaining in the fourth quarter. Altenhofen came off the bench to score seven.

"We played a lot smarter today I'd say -- definitely a lot smarter defense than we did yesterday," Lendt said.

The score was tied 14-14 after one quarter, but the Crusaders looked like they were about to break the game open with a 34-27 lead.

The Chargers stormed back in the third quarter, outscoring the Crusaders 19-7 and led 46-41 after three.

In the fourth quarter, Brielmaier hit back-to-back baskets and John Barnett hit a 3-pointer to put Loyola up 50-48. Beilke's jumper tied it at 50, and back-to-back baskets by Lendt made it 54-50.

Trung Ho's 3-pointer gave Loyola a 55-54 lead with 38 seconds remaining, but Lendt hit the second of two free throws to tie it 55. Truc Ho missed a 3-pointer late, and Brielmaier's shot from three-quarters court hit the rim as time expired.

"I guess that puts a really big target on our chest, because we know a lot of teams are going to come after us now," Lendt said. "We can't let this get to our heads."

Notes: Three members of the MVL team were named to the All-Tournament team. Beilke, Lendt, and Nathan Nass were selected. The MVL B-squad also won the championship with a 72-49 win over Mankato Loyola.