REBELS CELEBRATE

The Rebel boys team looked to earn the season sweep over the Red Rock Falcons Friday night and to erase the bad feeling from their game earlier in the week against RTR. MCC would do just that against the 11-13 Falcons as they would lead wire to wire to earn their 14th win of the season, securing a winning record with one game remaining. The game wouldn’t be without drama, as the Falcons are a tough team and pose some tough matchups. The Rebels were up for the challenge and would answer any of the RRC runs.

The Rebels started the game with 2 stops in a row and scored on their second offensive possession, as the ball got swung from the right wing to the left, post entry to Bryce Hoekman who hit the smooth 13 foot jumper from the left block.

The Rebels defense earned stops on the Falcons first five possessions. Offensively, they scored the first six points of the game, as Hoekman hit two shots and Hudson Schryvers connected on the other.

Hoekman scored again, as he snagged his own rebound and earned the putback to push the Rebels up to an 8-2 lead with 13:30 left to play in the half. RRC cut the lead to 8-6 before Gavin Gillette attacked the paint and finished for two, which was followed by a nice euro step by Ross Engelkes in the lane for two more. Great footwork led to the tough finish.

The Rebels got another stop before Bryce Hoekman kicked out from the double team to Hudson Schryvers, who attacked the paint and dished to the wide open Aidan Swenson for the easy two. MCC was up 14-6 with 10:30 left to play.

The Falcons scored on a nice alley-oop back door play on their next possession. Then Hudson Schyrvers drilled a deep three, late in the shot clock on the Rebels next possession to steal momentum back. The score sat at 17-8 with 8:20 left.

The Rebel defense held strong for the rest of the half, only allowing 16 points total, while the offense stayed steady against the tough Falcons defense, putting up 32 first half points. With the score at 32-16 and another half to go, MCC would need to stay steady against the competitive Falcon squad.

RRC started with the ball in the second half and immediately hit a three. Not what you are looking for if you are the Rebels, but Carter Lewis answered back quickly, receiving a dribble hand off at the top of the key and attacking down the right side of the lane for the scoop shot lay-up.

MCC clamped down again by earning three stops in a row and Ross Engelkes knocked down two free throws after attacking the paint and getting fouled on the 10 foot jumper.

The two teams traded buckets before MCC went a bit cold from the field and RRC cut the lead 13, then 11, and then 8 with 12:34 to go. 38-30. Time for MCC to answer back with a run of their own. The Rebels found Hoekman on the block for two. RRC answered back to keep the lead at 8. Ross Engelkes attacked baseline and scored on the unconventional, step through, fade away directly under the basket, falling towards the opposite hoop.

This would put the Rebels up 10, but RRC answered right back in transition. Bryce Hoekman earned a trip to the foul line on the next possession, knocking down both, putting the Rebels up 44-34 with just under 10 minutes to play.

The Rebels forced three turnovers on the Falcons next three possessions. Unfortunately, the Rebels had two turnovers as well. But on MCC’s third possession they capitalized. Aidan Dierks hit a three from the left slot to put the Rebels up 13 with 8:38 to go.

MCC got two more stops in a row before Ross Engelkes attacked and finished off the glass to put the Rebels up 15 with 7:22 to go. RRC would not go away. By the 6 minute mark, the score was 49-40, MCC.

The Rebels had a chance to extend the lead, but missed the front end of the one and one. At the 5:05 mark, Senior Carter Lewis made a great hustle play, getting down on the floor, forcing a jump ball situation and earning possession back for MCC.

Bryce Hoekman finished with his soft touch off the glass from just beyond the right block to put the Rebels back up double digits with just under 5 minutes remaining. 51-40. Both teams traded buckets and Isaac Simonson connected on 2 of his game high 35, before Aidan Dierks hit the 15 foot pull-up jumper with just over four minutes

remaining. 53-42.

On MCC’s next possession Aidan Dierks would enter the ball to Hoekman up the lane line and as soon as the double team came, Ross Engelkes cut to the basket. Hoekman found Engelkes, and after a head and shoulder fake, Engelkes drew contact and the shooting foul. He drilled both, to put the Rebels up 13 with 3:30 remaining.

Hoekman got a big block on the other end which led to another assist from Hoekman. This time to a back cutting Gavin Gillette. Rebels were up 15 and would get another stop with 2:22 remaining.

The Rebels missed the front end of the one and one on their next possession but earned another stop on defense and another trip to the foul line. This time Hoekman knocked down 2 and put the Rebels up 59-42. RRC hit a three on their next possession and the Rebels missed two free throws in the double bonus on theirs, to make things a little bit interesting with 1:26 remaining.

MCC got another stop and then Carter Lewis was sent to the line to shoot the double bonus. He connected on both. 6145 with 1:17 to go. The Rebels gave up a back door alley-oop lay-in on their next possession on defense, which was immediately followed by a turnover and a lay-up, plus the foul. With just under a minute to go the score was 61-49 as RRC missed the free throw.

MCC got the ball into Ross Engelkes’ hands on the next possession. He made both free throws after he was fouled, to put the Rebels back up 13. MCC got a stop and Aidan Dierks made 1-2 from the stripe. RRC scored one more time, before the Rebels ran out the clock and earned the win 6451.

Leading Scorers: Bryce Hoekman with 22, Ross Engelkes with 14, and Gavin Gillette with 9 Leading Rebounders: Bryce Hoekman with 9, Ross Engelkes with 5 Leading Steals: Gavin Gillette with 3, Leading Assists: Gavin Gillette with 3.