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Red Rock All-Conference Honorable Mention: Left to right, Tristan Behrends, Wyatt Thompson and Dugan Kluis. -
Seniors: Back, left to right, Eli Gillette, Cayden Veldhuisen, Max Miller, Wyatt Thompson; Front, Aubin Licht, Carter Hanson and Tayden Beerman. (not pictured: Aidan Swenson) -
Letter Winners: Back, left to right, Eli Gillette, Max Miller, Cayden Veldhuisen, Wyatt Thompson, Krew Schneider; Front, Tristan Behrends, Aubin Licht, Tayden Beerman, Carter Hanson, Max Mathiason and Dugan Kluis. (not pictured: Aidan Swenson, Beckett Stelter, Alez Betz, Carly Gillette and Javier Lopez)
By Crystal Reith The MCC boys’ basketball program held its season-ending banquet this week, celebrating the accomplishments of its teams, players, managers and supporters. While many of the highlights came from achievements on the court, coaches emphasized that what made the season truly special was the recognition the players received for how they carried themselves off the court throughout the year.
Eight seniors were recognized for their leadership and contributions to the program: Aidan Swenson, Wyatt Thompson, Cayden Veldhuisen, Tayden Beerman, Carter Hanson, Max Miller, Eli Gillette and Aubin Licht. Letter winners for the season included Swenson, Thompson, Veldhuisen, Beerman, Hanson, Miller, Gillette, Licht, Dugan Kluis, Tristan Behrends, Krew Schneider and Max Mathiason. The team was also supported throughout the season by managers Beckett Stelter, Alex Betz, Carly Gillette and Javier Lopez.
Several players received conference recognition for their performances. Swenson was named to the Red RockAll-Conference team, while Kluis, Behrends and Thompson earned Red Rock All-Conference Honorable Mention honors. In the classroom, Beerman, Gillette, Hanson, Veldhuisen, Licht and Miller were named Academic All-Conference, helping the varsity team achieve a combined grade point average of 3.59.
The team also produced several standout statistical performances during the season. The group set a conference best by making 18 three-pointers in a game on 32 attempts. Swenson recorded the most blocks in a game with nine, while Kluis dished out a conference-best 14 assists in a single game.
Several players also finished among the top 10 in the conference in individual categories. Swenson led the conference in blocked shots with Thompson finishing second, and Swenson also ranked fourth in rebounds per game. Miller finished first in three-point percentage, with Beerman fourth and Mathiason seventh. Hanson ranked fourth in free-throw percentage and Schneider ninth. Kluis finished second in assists per game, with Hanson ninth, while Behrends ranked second in steals per game and Kluis sixth.
Miller also etched his name in the school and state record books. He holds the school record for career free-throw percentage at a perfect 100 percent and currently ranks fourth all-time in Minnesota high school basketball history in career three-point percentage at 47.1 percent.
Coaches closed the evening by thanking the players, families and supporters who helped make the season memorable and encouraged the athletes to continue leading, growing and serving others beyond the game.
