Staff photo by Ari Selvey Minnesota Valley Lutheran’s Avery Freier (1) drives past New Ulm Cathedral’s Olivia Macho (14) Friday during a nonconference girls basketball game at MVL high school.

NEW ULM – Minnesota Valley Lutheran held off New Ulm Cathedral for a 69-58 victory on Friday in a nonconference girls basketball game.

The win kept MVL undefeated with a 6-0 overall record. The loss dropped Cathedral’s record to 0-6 overall.

Avery Freier led the Chargers with 19 points, three assists and two steals. Olivia Hammer added 16 points, six rebounds and two assists. Avery Hahn had 9 points, 14 rebounds and three steals, and Ziva Zahrt scored 8 points and had seven rebounds.

Shay Wilfahrt led the Greyhounds with 18 points. Olivia Macho and Jayde Altermatt each added 10 points.

“Avery Freier had a phenomenal game,” MVL head coach Hailey Santos said. “She did a great job all around and she brought energy to the defense tonight.”

Santos also was pleased with her team’s ability to rebound, make pressure free throws and not rushing things. Getting the ball into the post helped MVL to get good looks at the basket. Santos added that by getting the ball into the post, it created more outside shots during the second half. She also praised Cathedral’s Macho and for stepping up her game after MVL’s defense was focused on Shay Wilfahrt, a sentiment shared by Cathedral head coach Dave Wilfahrt.

“Olivia and Maddy [Gilles] stepped up, fulfilled their roles and did their job,” coach Wilfahrt said. “I am proud of us battling back and hanging in there.”

The contest was closer than the final score indicated. It started out with MVL holding as much as a 17-point advantage in the first half. Cathedral was not intimidated by the deficit nor MVL’s perfect record. It did briefly lead early on before MVL put together a some good runs to build its lead. It led 35-28 at halftime.

The Chargers missed opportunities to increase their lead in the first half. Zahrt closed out the first half when she got a rebound and scored just before the horn sounded to end the first half.

With 6:58 left in the game, Altermatt got the ball to Shay Wilfahrt, who drained a 3 to regain the lead for Cathedral at 51-50. MVL answered back when Hahn fed the ball to Zahrt, who scored on an inside basket. Shay Wilfahrt took the lead once more for Cathedral on the next play for a 53-52 lead.

Freier answered for MVL with a layup. Later, a battle for the ball ensued underneath the MVL basket. Hahn scored on a third-chance basket for a 3-point advantage. Shay Wilfahrt scored on a layup after she grabbed a rebound on an MVL missed shot. Macho tied it at 56-56 when she made one of two free throws.

Ellie Kaesermann made a bounce pass to Natalie Matzke who scored as she was fouled. She made the free throw and MVL led 59-56. Wilfahrt fed the ball to Altermatt who scored and she was fouled. She missed the free throw and it was 59-58 MVL.

With 2:20 left, Matzke canned a 3-pointer, which made it 62-58. On its next possession, Freier passed the ball to Olivia Hammer who hit another 3. Matzke iced the game when she made two free throws.

MVL rebounded well at key moments as the contest was winding down. Its defense and ability to score when needed helped to hold off Cathedral.

MVL will host Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop on Tuesday while Cathedral will play at Lester Prairie on Tuesday.