In the second of two meetings this year, WWG came to Slayton for the Red Rock Conference match-up. These games between the two teams come with a lot of excitement and with there being a boy/girl doubleheader, the stands were packed.
The Rebels won the tip and found Bryce Hoekman early, with a quick post entry pass and score. MCC put full court pressure on, which led to a quick shot by the Chargers and the Rebels were off and running. No basket on this trip, but they did draw a foul.
After another stop, the Rebels pushed in transition, reversed the basketball a couple of times and found Hoekman again from the block. He delivered. The defense forced another contested three and got their third straight stop to start the game.
After another stop, the Rebels got a couple cracks at it on offense, as Carter Lewis worked for an offensive rebound, but MCC would not convert. Three minutes into the game, MCC still had not allowed a point.
Lewis scored on the Rebels’ next possession on an inbound play, drawing contact and finishing the and-1. He would not make the free throw. At the 14:39 mark MCC was up 6-0. Gavin Gillette checked in and 20 seconds later attacked the basket and finished an and-1 of his own, but he too, would miss the free throw. 8-0, 4 minutes into the game.
WWG went on a 5-0 run over the next minute before Hoekman delivered on an and-1 opportunity. He would connect on the free throw. The two teams went back and forth for the next several possessions. With under ten minutes to play, the Rebels had a 19-13 lead.
Carter Lewis extended it to 21 after a turnover turned into a lay-up for Lewis. WWG answered back and kept the lead to within single digits. Over the last 2 minutes of the half, MCC would go on a run, ending the half with momentum and energy. Going from 21-13, they pushed the lead to 44-26 on a Dylan Kluis euro step with 3 seconds left.
The second half would see the Rebels on defense to start and they would make WWG work for 20 plus seconds to get a contested 13 foot runner from the baseline. Bryce Hoekman chased down the loose ball, passed it up to Carter Lewis, who attacked, lost the ball, had it bounce back to him, and then finished with the left hand by the basket. Crazy sequence, but that put the Rebels up 20 at 4626.
Hoekman got rolling over the next couple minutes and scored the next two baskets for the Rebels before Aidan Dierks, who suffered a dislocated shoulder, twice would be back on the floor to drill the right wing three. At 14:12 left in the game, MCC was up 53 to 32.
The teams traded buckets on the next two possessions before MCC forced a WWG turnover. Hoekman connected on two more buckets in a row to push the lead to 57-32, before Hudson Schyrvers and Gavin Gillette ran a pretty two-man game on the right side of the floor. Schyrvers dribbled at Gillette, who cut back door. Hudson hit him with the bounce pass and Gillette finish at the rim for two.
MCC kept the lead around the 20 mark for the next 4-5 minutes before they went on another run. Strong defense and great ball movement would see the Rebels up 74-43 with just under six minutes remaining.
Dylan Kluis connected on a strong drive, hang, shoot and score from about 10 feet, this was followed by two Max Miller free throws. But the shot of the night belonged to Drew Wajer. The Junior forward cut hard from the low block to the left slot, had his hands ready to receive the pass from Max Miller on the opposite slot. Wajer balanced his feet quickly and fired the three. He drilled it and the crowd erupted, putting MCC up 81-50.
MCC would finish the game with a 83-52 victory after a Ben Ahlers offensive rebound and put back.
Leading Scorers: Bryce Hoekman with 26, Gavin Gillette with 16, Carter Lewis with 14 Leading Rebounders: Bryce Hoekman with 12, Gavin Gillette with 7, Carter Lewis with 6 Leading Steals: Gavin Gillette with 4 Leading Assists: Owen Gillette and Ross Engelkes with 3 each
