Turnovers plague Chargers in loss to Bluejays | News, Sports, Jobs

Workers picture by Travis Rosenau
Minnesota Valley Lutheran sophomore Hint Gunderson (13) prepares to go up for a shot whereas guarded by Waseca’s Cyrett Lengthy throughout a nonconference boys basketball recreation Saturday afternoon at MVL’s Storm Fieldhouse.

NEW ULM — Turnovers and indecision plagued the Minnesota Valley Lutheran Chargers of their loss to the Waseca Bluejays on Saturday.

With 25 turnovers dedicated, the Chargers struggled to get a lot of something going within the nonconference recreation, falling 94-59 at Storm Fieldhouse.

Owen Birkholz led the Chargers with 12 factors, whereas Pierson Brau and Ethan Schauland every added 10. Luke Merseth chipped in 9 factors.

Waseca was led by Deron Russell’s game-high 31 factors, whereas Carson Ohnstad had 27 factors and Damarius Russell had 14.

Waseca was in a position to capitalize on MVL’s turnovers by constructing a double-digit lead early on. MVL’s solely lead within the recreation got here after a bucket inside by Brau that began the Chargers up 2-0. After that, MVL’s turnover troubles started, serving to Waseca go on a 10-0 run to steer 12-2. The final three Waseca buckets throughout that run got here off of MVL turnovers.

The turnover points ended up main MVL head coach Craig Morgan to make use of two of his 5 timeouts within the first 5 minutes of the sport. He ended up utilizing 4 timeouts within the first half.

“We needed to [take those timeouts], we needed to attempt to cease the bleeding,” Morgan stated. “We have been throwing the ball away after which we weren’t defending. After we would dribble or we’d make a transfer offensively, [we would] get ourselves into hassle as an alternative of creating that transfer earlier and in search of one other participant — the open participant.”

Sadly for the Chargers, the timeouts didn’t assist clear issues up as Waseca prolonged that 10-run right into a 17-0 run and a 17-2 lead after an and-one by Damarius Russell.

A putback by Merseth stopped the bleeding and he added a pair of free throws to have his crew down 17-6, however the Bluejays have been fast to get these factors again and finally stretched their result in 29-10. The groups started exchanging 3s momentarily, with a nook 3 by Brau getting MVL inside 15, 34-19.

Waseca pushed its lead again as much as 57-33 at halftime after back-to-back MVL turnovers led to back-to-back Waseca baskets to finish the primary half.

“We’re rebuilding and we’re rebuilding not solely gamers but additionally the crew chemistry and the crew philosophy of transferring the ball and search for a shot,” Morgan stated. “We are able to look and we will have a shot, but when there a greater one to have, and if I move it yet another time, I could get it.

“And defensively, we have to get rather a lot more durable. We have to get much more hard-nosed on that.”

Waseca bought the primary three baskets of the second half earlier than a Birkholz 3 ended the fast run. A 3 by Caden Danner put the Bluejays up 74-41 within the second half, prompting Morgan to make use of his last timeout with 12:22 left to play.

Waseca ended up main by as a lot as 42, 83-41, after a 14-0 run halfway by the second half. That run was ended after a 3 from Schauland.

The Chargers, who dropped to 0-3 this season with the loss, did have the powerful job of enjoying a troublesome Springfield crew on the street Friday evening earlier than internet hosting the now 4-0 Bluejays early on Saturday.

Realizing that they’ll be up in opposition to many extra sturdy, skilled groups this season, Morgan stated his crew, which has simply two seniors on it, should proceed to study the variations between JV and varsity.

“Once you take a step from JV to varsity, there’s a studying curve that it’s important to perceive. … You may’t make the gentle move that you simply used to make, these bounce passes that move off of any person’s shin, these gotta cease,” Morgan stated.

The Chargers will journey to tackle Martin County West on Tuesday evening earlier than returning residence for a 6 p.m. Friday recreation in opposition to New Ulm Cathedral at Storm Fieldhouse.