Minnesota Valley Lutheran’s first venture into the Section 2AA boys’ basketball tournament has resulted in wins over Tri-City United and Belle Plaine after the Chargers disposed of the Tigers 77-45 Thursday. The Chargers improved to 26-2 on the year.

MVL, seeded No. 1, now prepares to meet Jordan (19-7), seeded second, at 6 p.m. on Monday at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools in boys’ basketball.

“They like to get up and down the floor,” Chargers coach Craig Morgan said about the Hubmen. “They pressure the ball pretty well (in a 79-73 win over Glencoe-Silver Lake Thursday). They are a well-coached team. They like to get up and down the floor and they have a pretty balanced offense.”

Last season, the Chargers were in Section 2A before being realigned to Section 2AA.

“The game is still the same,” Morgan said. “The basket is still 10-feet high but the players are a little taller. We do match up height-wise but it is more of a physical game. So playing some of our [Tomahawk] conference games has helped us.”

Two other conference teams — New Ulm Cathedral and Springfield — are also still alive in the playoffs.

Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s pushed top-ranked BOLD before losing 98-85 Thursday. Those three teams have a combined record of 76-8.

Morgan said that he was happy with the four players in double figures Thursday but was more pleased with three of his players in double-figures in rebounds.

“We outrebounded them 47-28 and we did not give up any second chance points,” he said. “Rebounding is a mindset to get in position to get that rebound and to own it.”

One thing that the Chargers have is balanced scoring with four in double figures Thursday.

“Our chemistry is great, they see each other, their mindset is what can I do for someone else on the team. They make the defense on the other team work.”

One player for the Chargers who may make a difference especially on defense is Izayah Harrison.

“He has taken on the role on defense as he has frustrated opposing players,” Morgan said. “He gets pressure on the ball — he is a pest and is all over the ball — he is relentless. He relishes that role.”

Morgan said that in one game an opposing player who was being guarded by Harrison asked his coach to take him out of the game.

GREYHOUNDS FACE FAMILIAR FOE: For the third time in three years, New Ulm Cathedral and BOLD will square off in a Section 2A playoff game.

Last year, the Greyhounds defeated the Warriors 73-70. Two years ago, it was BOLD who sent the Greyhounds home with a 83-59 win.

BOLD, 27-1 and the top seed, and Cathedral, 25-3, meet at 6 p.m. Monday at Gustavus Adolphus College for the Section 2A, North Subsection championship.

“So we know what to expect out of them and they know what to expect out of us,” Cathedral coach Alan Woitas said.

One of the three losses this season was to BOLD when they lost a road contest 59-53 on February 18.

“That game was a battle in the halfcourt and I think that if we can play that same style again we can do well,” Woitas said. “They like to get out and run — they do that extremely well. So if we can slow the pace down and make sure we make it a lone possession game that will benefit us.

“We have been consistently better in scoring in the halfcourt for the last month here,” Woitas said. “They have some tough match-ups with us so we need to value our possessions and limit our turnovers. We need to attack the hoop for 36 minutes.”

Woitas said that he is concerned about both Drew and Jordan Sagedahl along with Gavin Vosika.

“You need to go a good job of keeping all three of them in check and make their other players beat you.”