Crusaders utilize dual attack to capture MVC

Saxony Lutheran utilized Miss Outside and Mr. Inside during Saturday's victory against Meadow Heights in the championship game of the Mississippi Valley Conference tournament, played at Oak Ridge High School.

The Crusaders (14-2) rallied from a 10-point deficit with a 26-9 spree in the final period for a 71-64 victory. They converted 21 of 29 free throws on the night to Meadow Heights' 2 for 2.

Leading the charge from the outside was Lauren Lueders, who scored all 16 of her points in the second half. She hit three 3-pointers.

Lueders had been shut out during the conference semifinal game, in which she had 11 assists, and the first half of the final.

"Right when people start counting her out, that's when she steps up," said Saxony coach John Daniel. "She's a competitor."

While the sophomore guard was leading Saxony's attack from the outside, 6-foot-3 classmate Tim Lorenz provided the punch inside. Lorenz score a game-high 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the final.

"Meadow Heights is a great team, and we knew it'd be a battle," Daniel said.

Lorenz was in double figures all three games in the MVC tourney and was named to the all-tournament team.

He was joined on that squad by teammate Casey Petzoldt, Brad Adams and Terry Wagner of Meadow Heights, Josh King and Adam Statler of Marquand, Austin Morrison and Austin Hahs of Oak Ridge, Curt Wiseman of Zalma, and Lucas Horrell and Brandon Bueter of Leopold.

Saxony plays Tuesday at Puxico.