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Dugan Kluis -
Carter Hanson
The MCC Rebel Boys were back at home on Monday night playing host to Westbrook Walnut Grove. The Rebels and the Chargers have had great battles over the years in the Red Rock Conference and Monday night was no different. The Chargers were looking to add to their 3-1 record to open the season and MCC was looking for their second win of the season against one loss. It didn’t look good for the Rebels in the first half, but the game would be decided in the second.
You don’t see many games in which a team is trailing before the game even begins, but in Slayton you got to see it on Monday. The Rebels were assessed a technical foul during warm-ups for dunking. The Chargers would be given two free throws and were awarded the ball. Neil Kuehl made both free throws and the Rebels trailed by two before the game even began. The Rebels would struggle in the first half, turning the ball over 9 times while shooting 26% from the field and missing their only two free throws of the half. The Chargers didn’t shoot much better, making just 29% of their shots, but they made 9 of 12 free throws. Max Wiborg led the Chargers with 9 first half points. WWG led 20 to 8 and looked to be in control. MCC finally got some offense going late in the half when Cayden Veldhuisen and Carter Hanson made three point shots and Krew Schneider and Danny Larson each converted on a basket. The Rebels got within four points. The Chargers then made a late run to lead at the half 28 to 20.
The second half started with the Rebels scoring the first seven points of the half. The Rebels defense forced 11 second half turnovers and MCC took the lead on a Hanson three point shot. Tristan Behrends scored all 11 of his points in the second half as he gave the Rebels the boost they needed. Carter Hanson scored ten second half points and Dugan Kluis added another nine. The Rebels led by as many as twelve points in the second half. They held the Chargers to just six made shots from the field in the second half as MCC stormed back for the win 58 to 47.
The Rebels defense was solid most of this game, holding the Chargers to under 30% shooting throughout the game. If it wasn’t for the free throw line, where the Chargers took 21 shots and making 14, the score wouldn’t have been nearly as close. That said, the Chargers defense was terrific in the first half but struggled in the second half to stop the Rebels from getting good and makeable shots. The Rebels forced the Chargers into 11 second half turnovers which helped key the Rebels offense. MCC had three players in double figures, led by Carter Hanson and Dugan Kluis who scored 13 points each while Tristan Behrends added 11. Aidan Swenson scored 8 points. Kluis contributed greatly in two ways. Along with 13 points, he grabbed 14 rebounds. The Chargers were led by Drew Swanson with 12 points, Max Wibord and Jackson Jenniges scored 11 each, and Neil Kuehl added 10. The Rebels will play at Southwest Christian on Thursday.
