Feb 20, 2024
Workers picture by Ari Selvey Minnesota Valley Lutheran’s Olivia Hammer turns to the ring throughout a nonconference women basketball recreation Monday at MVL highschool.
NEW ULM — Regardless of a 72-40 nonconference loss to Redwood Valley in Minnesota Valley Lutheran’s ultimate residence recreation of the season, Chargers women basketball head coach Hailey Santos has a constructive outlook for her crew going into the longer term.
“We had one win final season, and we’re as much as three this 12 months,” Santos stated. “We all know that three might be decrease than what we might have favored it to be, however I’ve a whole lot of underclassmen which might be stepping up in huge methods when it comes to stats, when it comes to management and simply work ethic. I feel that tradition of our program is altering for the higher.
“We’re taking part in the lengthy recreation proper now and recognizing that we’re not going to have the ability to flip it round to a 20-win season in only one 12 months. I’m proud of the progress that we’re seeing. I’m not content material with the place we’re at, however we’re trying to the longer term.”
MVL holds a 3-22 document on the season with one recreation to play at winless Immanuel Lutheran on Thursday, so the Chargers have an opportunity to select up one other win for his or her rebuilding crew earlier than playoffs begin.
In opposition to Redwood Valley, nevertheless, who improves to 16-10, MVL struggled towards the full-court press, permitting the Cardinals to go on a 32-0 run after Avery Freier scored the primary 3 factors of the sport for MVL. Freier completed with 9 factors for the Chargers, whereas Olivia Hammer had 17 factors. Mackenzie Merseth added 5 factors for the Chargers.
After Redwood Valley’s opening run, the 2 groups scored extra evenly, with the Cardinals holding a 44-14 lead going into half. MVL obtained scorching from behind the arc in the midst of the second half, with Hammer hitting a pair of 3s, Ella Hunter hitting a shot from deep to chop the result in 59-29.
Avery Hopp and Merseth hit two extra pictures within the paint earlier than Redwood Valley referred to as a timeout. After the timeout, MVL was in a position to put out an all-senior squad of Abby Hartwig, Maddie Schmidt, Merseth, Hunter and Kathryn Dinse for his or her ultimate residence recreation.
“It was enjoyable to get to see them do some blast from the previous,” Santos stated. “I coached them on the C-squad degree, so it was good getting all of them out on the court docket collectively. One in all my seniors [Kerigan Brau] is out with a concussion right now, and I let her make the play name. She selected protection and offense.
“It was enjoyable to see them get that chance to play collectively. There’s no assure of that within the subsequent couple of video games, so letting them have that second collectively was actually particular.”
Merseth hit one other 3 for the senior squad to drag inside 62-36, however Redwood Valley obtained scorching on the opposite finish as properly, closing out the sport with a 10-4 run for the win.
Right now’s breaking information and extra in your inbox
GIRLS BASKETBALL Sleepy Eye 74, GFW 49 SLEEPY EYE — Sleepy Eye defeated Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop 74-49 Monday …
Right now’s breaking information and extra in your inbox
Copyright © The Journal | https://www.nujournal.com | 303 N. Minnesota St., New Ulm, MN 56073 | 507-359-2911
