MCC 57 - Lakeview 50
MCC traveled to Cottonwood Thursday afternoon to take on the 8-13 Lakeview Lakers. Lakeview has a tough team. They compete hard on defense and have given themselves chances to win a handful of games against the section’s top teams. This would be a true road test for the Rebels, as they would need to play a complete game to win.
Neither team scored for the first two minutes of action. Tough defense, contested shots, and not converting on open looks would be the summary of the first two minutes. Gavin Gillette broke the scoreless tie with two free throws, after attacking the basket and picking up the shooting foul. Lakeview tied the game up on their next possession. Dylan Kluis poked the ball loose, Hudson Schryvers had hands on it and was about to pass the ball up to the streaking Kluis for the uncontested layup, but a Lakeview defender got a hand on the ball between Schryvers legs and ripped the ball back into Laker possession. He found a cutting teammate off of one knee and make a nice pass for the bucket.
The two teams traded empty possession before Aidan Swenson earned great post position and made a nice turnaround hook shot off the glass to put the Rebels up 4-2 with just under 15 minutes to play.
The Rebels turned the ball over on their next two possessions, one leading directly to points for the Lakers. Shortly after that, MCC would turn a turnover into an and-1 opportunity, as Aidan Swenson pitched the ball ahead to a lane-running Dylan Kluis who caught, gathered, absorbed contact and finished.
The Rebels held a slim 7-6 lead for the next couple minutes before a turnover led to two free throws for the Lakers and they connected on both. 8-7 Lakeview at the 10:30 minute mark. By the 10:20 mark, MCC took a 10-8 lead after a Gavin Gillette three point shot from the deep left wing.
Max Miller drilled a three from nearly the same spot, just a couple feet closer to the line for a quick 6 points for the Rebels and a 13-8 lead. By the 8:15 mark, MCC took its biggest lead of the half, going up 15-8 after an Aidan Swenson 10 foot jumper.
Lakeview kept battling and started to get quality shots around the basket, which opened up the outside shot as well. Lakeview ended the half on a big run, 16 to 8, going into the half up one, 24-23 after being down 7 with just over 8 minutes to go. A half of mini runs and tough defense would set up a competitive second half.
MCC started the second half with the ball and Dylan Kluis earned a tough two after an offensive rebound to retake the lead 13 seconds into the half. 25-24. The defense started the half with three stops before Kluis found another shot from the block off a nice pass from Hudson Schryvers. With 15:37 left to play, MCC had a three point lead, 27-24.
Less than a minute later, the Lakers had retaken the lead going on a 4-0 run before Gillette hit a nice runner from the right baseline. But the Lakers went on another mini run, going up 4 before Gillette again answered with another tough finish around the rim,absorbing contact and finishing through it. 33-31, Lakers with 13 minutes to go.
Lakeview went back up four on a couple different occasions within the next 8 minutes. MCC couldn’t get back to back shots to fall until Gillette picked a ball off above the top of the key and went coast to coast for two. This tied the game. He next hit a wing three to put the Rebels up 3. This was the Rebels first lead from almost ten minutes of game time. 46-43 with 4:46 to play.
The Lakers answered back with a 15 foot jumper, but Aidan Swenson earned a trip to the foul line on his next possession and made both, to put the Rebels back up 3.
The Lakers connected again on a 15 foot jumper on their next possession. This one was with 6 seconds left on the shot clock and was contested very well. Tough shot, but great offense beats great defense more times than not. The Rebels best defense was yet to come.
The Rebels got a stop on their next possession after failing to score on the previous offensive possession. Aidan Swenson connected on a smooth 6 foot baby hook to put the Rebels back up 3 with 2:33 to play. After a long possession on defense the Rebels gave up a 3, tying the game at 50-50 with 2 minutes to go. Little did anyone know, those would be the last points Lakeview would score as the Rebels defense played aggressively, switching man to man to slow the dribble drive action by the Lakers.
MCC ran a smooth set, getting Max Miller a clean look from the left wing. He drilled the three off the multiple action set, giving the Rebels the three point lead. The Rebels got another stop before Aidan Swenson went to work from the left block. Setting his defender up with a hard dribble to the middle of the lane, Swenson spun back to his right, into a smooth jumper for two. MCC was up 5 with under 50 seconds to go.
Senior Gavin Gillette put the finishing touches on the game by sinking 2 more free throws with 15 seconds left, giving him a game high 22 points and tying the team’s largest lead of 7 points at the right time. MCC earned the hard fought win 5750 against section opponent Lakeview.
MCC Leading Scorers: Gavin Gillette, 22. Aidan Swenson 18. Dylan Kluis, 7. Leading Rebounders: Aidan Swenson, 7. Hudson Schryvers, 5. Leading Assists: Hudson Schryvers, 6. Max Miller, 3. Leading Steals: Gavin Gillette, 3. Aidan Swenson, Dylan Kluis, Hudson Schryvers, and Carter Hanson, all with 2.
