MCC 67 - RRC 34
The Rebels boys basketball team took care of business in Lamberton and got back into the win column Tuesday night in the second meeting of the season. RRC was 3-17 going into the contest and the Rebels were 11-9.
MCC started the game with a great opportunity, creating a turnover that led to a transition lay-up. Unfortunately for the Rebels, they would not make the lay-up. RRC followed this up with a long possession, accumulating multiple offensive rebounds, as the Rebels looked flat footed. Falcon players were attacking the offensive rebounds and getting there first. Eventually they would earn a trip to the foul line and convert on 1 of 2 to take the lead.
RRC missed the second of two free throws and the Rebels could not corral the rebound and knocked it out of bounds, giving the Falcons another possession. RRC missed a tough contested baseline jumper, but gathered another offensive rebound before the Rebels got a stop.
Senior Dylan Kluis worked hard for his own offensive rebound off a Hudson Schryvers missed wing three to get the first bucket of the game for MCC. Kluis finished a tough shot from the left block to give the Rebels a 2-1 lead.
MCC scored their next two baskets after attaining offensive rebounds, to push the lead to 6-1. MCC would go up 8-1 before RRC scored their next bucket, but great floor spacing, attacking, and passing got the Rebels an easy look to answer right back. The Rebels pushed the ball up the floor, finding Dylan Kluis in the corner. He would rip and attack baseline, kicked to Hudson Schryvers on the opposite wing, who attacked the middle of the paint, read the help defense, and dished it off to Aidan Swenson for the nice bank shot and two points from 4 feet away.
MCC was playing well on both ends of the court and pushed their lead up to 14-3 for their first double digit lead of the ball game with 9:30 minutes to play. RRC connected on a long three to cut the lead to 14-6 on their next possession.
The Rebels went on a huge run to finish the last 9 minutes of the half. The defense only gave up 5 more points, holding RRC to 11 in the half, while the offense scored 17, bringing the score to 31-11 at the break. Seven Rebels contributed in the scoring column in the first half, spreading the ball around well, creating offense from defense and executing well in the half court. Aidan Swenson led the charge with 13 of his 15 points in the first half. Dylan Kluis added 6. Gavin Gillette added four and Carter Hanson, Tristan Behrends, Carson Engelkes, and Max Miller each added 2.
The second half start off slowly for the Rebels. Starting on defense, the Rebels allowed the ball to be driven into the paint. The on ball defender got beat and the help did not fully commit to making the driver kick it out. A nice pass from the middle of the lane to the block created a catch and shoot opportunity. MCC did not get the rebound off the first attempt and fouled on the second, sending RRC to the line. They connected on both. 31-13.
MCC turned the ball over after a post entry pass turned into a double team. RRC turned this turnover into two more free throws. 31-15. The Rebels did not score on their next possession and gave up a three on defense. 31-18. MCC called a timeout and needed to regroup.
The Rebels responded with a 10-4 run of their own, highlighted by a nice wrap around pass from block to block, from Carson Engelkes to Andrew Holm, and an awesome effort running the floor by Holm as well, cleaning up a missed lay-up from the Rebels and scoring. At the 13 minute mark the score was 42-24 MCC.
Gavin Gillette would split the defense on MCC’s next position, hang, and finger roll the ball in off the glass to put the Rebels back up by 20. Carter Hanson took a charge on the Rebels next defensive possession, as the Rebels were energized and rolling. Hanson hit a three, two possessions later, to push the lead to 23 with 12 minutes to go in the game. Gillette would make an acrobatic finish from just outside the right block on MCC’s next possession as the Rebels started to pull away for good.
RRC never got within 20 after this flurry by the Rebels and the double exclamation mark to cap off the game was when Seniors Dawson Schreier and Drew Wajer put their name in the score column. Dawson battled in the post and knocked down a tough put back after an offensive rebound and Wajer drilled a rhythm three from the left wing. 10 Rebels would score in the second half as a lot of balance and execution made for many opportunities. MCC earned the win 67-34.
Leading Scorers: Aidan Swenson, 15. Gavin Gillette, 12. Leading Rebounders: Aidan Swenson, 9. Dylan Kluis, 6. Max Miller, 5. Hudson Schryvers, 5. Carter Hanson, 4. Leading Steals: Gavin Gillette, 5. Four Rebels with 2. Leading Assists: Gavin Gillette, 3. Carson Engelkes, 2.
