The MCC Rebel Boys Basketball team was on the road Tuesday night for a big Red Rock Conference game in Mountain Lake against the Wolverines. Both teams entered the game at 5-2 looking to continue their winning ways. The Wolverines had won 5 straight games. MCC had won 4 out of 5 games but was looking to continue the offensive play they established against HBC last Friday. The Rebels would get about half of what they wanted Tuesday night but most importantly they got the win.
MCC would get off to the good start in the game as the Rebels’ Tanner Graphenteen would connect on two threepoint shots to open the game. The Wolverines would respond with Alex Karschnik who would score 13 first-half points. Grant Oakland would score five early points to help push the Wolverines out front. MCC would make 4 three-point shots to open the game but those 4 makes were mixed in with five turnovers and several missed shots at the free throw line. Both teams would get into the double bonus in the first half which meant a lot of free throws that neither team shot all that well. At the half, MLAC led 29 to 22.
The second half started slowly for both teams but the Wolverines would get an early threepoint shot from Cody Wassman to stretch the lead into double figures. That seemed to get the Rebels’ attention because after the Wolverine lead grew the Rebels cut down on their turnovers and started getting the ball to Christian Tentinger. The Rebel senior took the game over almost by himself. He was around every missed shot grabbing one rebound after another and he began to score at will in the paint. The only thing that slowed him down was the free-throw line. Tentinger scored 19 second-half points, almost as many as the entire time scored in the first half. As Tentinger cut into the deficit the other Rebels found chances to score. Derek Kluis with a key three-point shot in the middle of the half. Bryce Hoekman scored 7 points in the matter of about four possessions including a three-point play that put the Rebels in the lead. MCC took their first lead in the second half 51 to 50. The Rebels would still have to battle back from falling behind by 3 and 4 points which they would. Aiden Dierks would seal the Rebel win with a big three-point shot with just over forty seconds to play. The Rebels would pull of the win 65 to 59.
The Rebels would be led in the game by Christian Tentinger who despite missing 8 free throws scored 26 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. Tanner Graphenteen finished with 15 points and 5 steals in the contest. Aiden Dierks scored 10 points for the Rebels who got a big win one week before a tough 4-game stretch against the top teams in Section 3A. The Wolverines were led by Alex Karschnik who scored 25 points and Cody Wassman who added 13. The Rebels will finish the week at home Friday night against Red Rock Central.
