The MCC Rebel Boys Basketball team was on the road Thursday to Edgerton to take on their toughest test of the early season. The Rebels took on the Eagles of Southwest Christian in a Red Rock Conference match-up.
It was a late starting game after the JV Eagles beat the Rebels in overtime.
The Rebels came out strong in the first half but the Eagles would dominate the second half with their constant pressure and aggressive defense.
The Rebels played a strong first half, leading much of it. Carter Hanson got the Rebels going with an early 3-point shot and Wyatt Thompson checked into the game and scored 8 early points. At the end of the half Tristan Behrends got to the basket on tough drives and finished around the hoop. Defensively the Rebels forced the Eagles into a half court game, which allowed the Rebels’ size advantage inside to play a factor as the Eagles struggled to shoot from the field. The Eagles made their free throws and got too many offensive rebounds.
At one point, the Rebels led 30 to 21, but the Eagles made a strong push to get back in the game forcing three straight turnovers and scoring on the following possessions. The Rebels finished the first half with a lead 34 to 33.
The Eagles came out strong in the second half, especially on the offensive end, where the outside shots that were not falling in the first half started to fall in the second. They built nearly a 10 point lead in the first 5 minutes of the half. The Rebels made a couple of shots to keep the game close but as the minutes ticked by the deficit grew. Turnovers increased and the 3-point shots dropped. The Eagles defensive pressure not only created turnovers and mistakes from opponents but it also challenged their endurance. The Rebels couldn’t match the Eagles speed and tempo and the Eagles cruised to the win 83 to 63. The Eagles outscored the Rebels in the second half 50 to 29.
The Eagles struggled to shoot from the outside in the first half but in the second it was a very different story. The Eagles finished the game with 8 made threes, most of which came in the second half. SWC out-shot the Rebels from the field 80 to 49 and made 10 more shots than the Rebels.
It was one thing to be out shot from the field but the Eagles out rebounded the Rebels 34 to 23 and forced the Rebels into 30 turnovers while giving up the ball just 15 times. Tristan Behrends led the Rebels with 18 points and 7 rebounds in the game. Wyatt Thompson scored 12 for the Rebels while no one else had more than 6. Ryan Pap led the Eagles with 26 in the game, most coming in the second half. The Rebels will play Monday at Okabena against the Coyotes of HLOF.
