File photo by Steve Muscatello Minnesota Valley Lutheran’s Maddie Spurgin takes a shot during a recent game at MVL.

NEW ULM — Minnesota Valley Lutheran started slow keeping Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart within 2 points in the first 12 minutes of the first half.

MVL (10-11) had a 10-point lead at the end of the first half, moving on to win 70-54 in a Tomahawk Conference girls’ basketball battle Friday night.

The Chargers trailed in the first minutes of the half when Haley Birkholz stole a pass at the BLHS (2-17) arc and took it down low for the Chargers. Birkholz found Maddie Spurgin for the 3-pointer with 6:29 left to play as the Chargers trailed 16-14.

“When we put the press on it started to create turnovers, we created momentum with that and started hitting some shots to build a 10 point lead in the first half,” Spurgin said.

The Chargers took the lead 17-16, at the 5-minute mark, when Spurgin was fouled going for the layup. Spurgin’s shot fell in after it rolled the rim before she hit the plus one from the free throw line.

Birkholz later intercepted a pass just across midcourt and scored as the Chargers began to build on their lead with just over 4 minutes to play in the first.

The Chargers tallied over 28 steals for the team tonight against the Mustangs. The Chargers created the turnovers yet struggled offensively to create points on the take aways.

“We need to focus on running the ball and really focus on scoring the easier points,” Spurgin said. “When we put the press on that help to create the turnovers to create the momentum.”

In the first 9 minutes of the second half, the Chargers out scored the Mustangs 22-5, opening a commanding lead.

MVL continued to put points on the board, moving the ball to the outside, when Birkholz and Mara Bonnett hit consecutive 3-pointers for the 60-38 lead.

“We have to keep working together to stay positive moving forward [in the Tomahawk],” Birkholz said. “We have to keep pushing forward and play fast, when we slow down we turn the ball over.”

Sara Kottke led BLHS with 21 points and Keegan Hanson tallied 13 points.

Birkholz led the Chargers with 18 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals. Spurgin put up 14 points with four steals, Emma Nelson had 11 points with nine rebounds and Lauren Paulsen ended with 7 points and six steals.

BLHS will host Springfield at 7:30 on Monday for Tomahawk Conference action.

The Chargers will travel at 7:30 on Monday against Cedar Mountain/Comfrey in Morgan.