Le Sueur-Henderson beat Minnesota Valley Lutheran 57-48 on Monday at NEW ULM in a girls basketball non-conference matchup.
One game is won by each team. By adding a victory, they hoped to improve their season record.
Haley Santos, head coach of the MVL, said, “This defeat stings. I really value the job they did.
It was one of the team’s best efforts this season so far, he said.
Santos believes that the team’s experience playing under duress in the closing stretch taught them a crucial lesson.
LSH had a 22-21 halftime advantage against MVL and outscored them 35-27 in the second. The Chargers were led by Ella Mullenbach’s 19 points, who also had 18 from Mackenzie Merceth.
Eva Wagner paced the Giants with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Rhyan Fritz scored 12 points, while Kelsey Wetzel grabbed 12 rebounds.
Everything was close from the initial tip-off to the last buzzer of the first half. Eight lead changes and two ties occurred.
LSH had a five-point lead at the break. At halftime, MVL was behind only one point. Wilbright’s basket made the score 21-16 for LSH. Mullenbach’s three-pointer gave LSH a 21-19 advantage. Two free shots by Merceth tied the game at 21 with 1:21 left in the first half. Due to a free throw by Fritz, the Giants had a one-point advantage going into halftime.
Things were good for the Chargers early in the second half when Merseth hit two free throws and Mullenbach converted a layup to give MVL a 25-22 lead.
Soon after, Morgan Gregerson made a hoop to tie the game at 26. After snatching a rebound, he scored. Wagner made an inside hoop to reclaim the Giants’ 28-26 lead.
Becca Cook’s goal with 2:47 remaining in the contest trimmed the Giants’ advantage to 51-47. In the last moments, MVL committed numerous expensive mistakes. LSH won because it was able to halt MVL. An LSH field goal, a layup by Wagner, and two free throws by Fritz made up the winning combination.
