Crusaders draw line in MVC tournament championship game

~ Saxony Lutheran was perfect on 14 free throws in the second halfto win its third league tourney title in four years.

PATTON -- The Saxony Lutheran boys basketball team hit all 14 free throws it took in the second half, including 10 in the fourth quarter, to capture its third MIssissippi Valley Conference title in four years 66-51 over Chaffee on Saturday at Meadow Heights.

The second-seeded Chaffee made a late run at the top-seeded Crusaders midway through the fourth qaurter, pulling to within 50-42 with 4 minutes left, but the Red Devils could get no closer. Saxony Lutheran used a combination of perfect free throws and several steals to ice the game.

"At the end, they made their free throws," Chaffee coach Tyson Moyers said. "We cut it to 10 with Andy Hendrix's 3-pointer. They stepped up and made their free throws, and they got a couple of steals which were big for them."

Sophomore point guard Bret Steffens made all 10 free throws he took in the second half, including eight in the final 2 minutes. Steffens finished with 12 points, all from the line.

"I was really proud of the way the kids stepped up to the line and made free throws," Saxony coach John Daniel said. "To have him [Steffens] go 10-for-10 down the stretch is big."

Saxony (17-3) took control of the game early in the third quarter with an 8-3 run. The Crusaders went up 38-25 early in the third and held a double-digit lead the rest of the quarter.

The lead climbed to 14 points late in the third, and Saxony got it back to 14 at 50-36 early in the fourth quarter.

"They went down the first four possession [of the third quarter] and got it into the post," Moyers said. "They scored three times and turned it over once.

"Jauch's a really good player, and they utilize him well. We subbed in Michael Lee and he did a real good job on him the rest of the second half."

Alex Jauch led Saxony with 19 points, 12 coming after halftime. Max Wieser added 17 points.

"We are proud we've won the tournament three times in the four years we've been in it," Daniel said. "It's always special when you win a championship."

Chaffee kept things close early, tying the score three times in the first quarter. The Red Devils (5-13) could not get ahead of Saxony, though, and allowed the Crusaders to slowly pull away.

The Red Devils cut the lead to 24-22 late in the second period, but Saxony scored the final six points of the half for a 30-22 lead.

Saxony attempted 18 free throws to just four for Chaffee in the first half.

Jerrod Steger led Chaffee with 20 points and Aaron Hopkins had 10. Steger had four 3-pointers.

"I'm just proud of the kids," Moyers said. "They beat us 72-27 the second game of the year. They way I look at it we've improved. The kids played hard."

Third-place game

Sixth-seeded Zalma won the third-place game 75-72 over Leopold.

Justin Lemons scored 29 points to lead Zalma. Colton Bailey added 14.

For Leopold, Darren VanGennip scored 26 points.

MVC CHAMPIONSHIP

SAXONY LUTHERAN 66,CHAFFEE 51

Saxony 13 17 14 22 -- 66

Chaffee 9 13 11 18 -- 51

SAXONY LUTHERAN (66) -- Zach Bohnert 2, Bret Steffens 12, Max Wieser 17, Alex Jauch 19, Ben Courtois 6, Clay Obergoenner 4, Austin Kwikkel 6. FG 19, FT 27-32, F 17 (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: Obergoenner).

CHAFFEE (51) -- Aaron Hopkins 10, Jared Steger 20, Adam Horton 9, Andrew Hendrix 6, Michael Lee 2, Josh Steger 2. FG 15, FT 15-19, F 24 (3-pointers; Ja. Steger 4, Hendrix 1, Horton 1. Fouled out: Lee).

THIRD-PLACE

ZALMA 75, LEOPOLD 72

Zalma 10 24 22 19 -- 75

Leopold 20 8 22 22 -- 72

ZALMA (75) -- Chad Buehler 13, Tim Rodgers 13, Colton Bailey 14, Justin Lemons 29, Kevin Walker 6. FG 27, FT 14-20, F 11 (3-pointers: Lemmons 4, Rodgers 3. Fouled out: none)

LEOPOLD -- Codey Van De Ven 6, Tyler Clubb 10, Darren VanGennip 26, Eric Fluchel 24, Matt Stoverink 6. FG 29, FT 6-14, F 13 (3-pointers: VanGennip 6, Stoverink 2. Fouled out: none).

JV title -- Leopold 63, Meadow Heights 60