The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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  • Pat Christman

    NRHEG boys basketball

December 30, 2009

NRHEG downs MVL for Pepsi Tournament title

Drew Lyon

MANKATO — In its previous seven appearances at the Pepsi Holiday Tournament, New Richland Hartland-Ellendale Geneva had earned no better than a third-place finish. This year, it was a jubilant Panthers squad hoisting the championship trophy of the 12th annual tournament after a 67-57 triumph over Minnesota Valley Lutheran Wednesday at Bethany Lutheran Center.

“After coming here for eight years and never being champions, it's nice for the boys to get the trophy,” NRHEG head coach Brian Riley said after the game. “There are only two times a year where you're in a tournament, and to win one of them is a lot of fun.”

Buoyed by five 3-pointers and 10 points from center Cory Camerer, the Panthers raced out to a 37-26 halftime lead.

With starting guard Josh Hoffman unable to play due to an ankle injury, the Chargers relied heavily on the offensive production of forwards Galen Holzhueter and Christian Evers, who contributed a combined 24 of the team's 36 first-half points. After crawling back from a 10-point halftime deficit in the tournament semifinals, the Chargers again cut into their opponents’ double-digit lead Wednesday after Holzhueter's jumper with six minutes remaining put the score at 50-42.

Turnovers of several variations — traveling, five-second violations, stripped balls— and missed free throws crippled the Chargers second-half attack, and MVL head coach Craig Morgan said it was wishful thinking to expect lightning to strike twice on consecutive nights.

“You can only (make that comeback) sometimes,” he said. “You can't make a living off that. They're a good ball club and they made their shots. We expended a lot of energy last night and we just couldn't keep the energy tonight and we needed to cut down our mistakes.”

But the Chargers managed one final offensive spurt before NRHEG pulled away in the final two minutes. Down 62-44 with three minutes remaining, MVL rattled off seven points over a 45-second span to pull within 11. The Panthers pressed hard on defense throughout the game, and clamped down hard enough in the final minutes to again extend the lead to double digits.

“Our defense came up big,” Riley said. “(MVL) is a good team, they've got good shooters, and our defense really carried us.”

Camerer, who made the all-tournament along with teammates Tyler Firme and Hunter Eustice, finished with 17 points. Junior guard Matt Nate also added 17 points, including 10 in the second half.

The Chargers were again led by Holzhueter, who posted 26 points and made the all-tourney squad. Evers added 17 points and also earned all-tournament honors.

“I was pleased with the effort,” Morgan said. “I told the guys after the game that sounds like a loser's speech but the guys really improved with each game.”

And for the first time after a holiday tournament, it was the Panthers who could call themselves champions.

NRHEG (6-2) plays Jan. 7, at Blooming Prairie. MVL (4-2) plays Tuesday at GFW.

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High School Sports