Feb 20, 2024
Employees 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 remaining dwelling recreation of the season, Chargers women basketball head coach Hailey Santos has a constructive outlook for her group going into the longer term.
“We had one win final season, and we’re as much as three this yr,” Santos stated. “We all know that three might be decrease than what we’d have preferred it to be, however I’ve a whole lot of underclassmen which are stepping up in large methods by way of stats, by way of 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 yr. 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 report 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 group earlier than playoffs begin.
In opposition to Redwood Valley, nonetheless, 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 acquired 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 capable of put out an all-senior squad of Abby Hartwig, Maddie Schmidt, Merseth, Hunter and Kathryn Dinse for his or her remaining dwelling 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 courtroom collectively. One in every of my seniors [Kerigan Brau] is out with a concussion at the moment, 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 acquired scorching on the opposite finish as nicely, closing out the sport with a 10-4 run for the win.
At present’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 …
At present’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
