-
Derek Kluis -
Ross Engelkes
The Murray County Central Rebels were back at home on Friday night where they hosted the TMB Panthers. The Panthers and the Rebels started their seasons in the same place at the same, time playing in Sleepy Eye against the Indians and the Sleepy Eye St Mary’s Knights. The Panthers struggled early in the year but have played better as of late and MCC was looking to pick up their 8th straight win.
The game started with a little history for the Panthers. Trevor Smith, the 6’0” sophomore guard, scored his 1,000th career point on a three-point shot. The Panthers used the three-point line to their advantage for much of the first half. Smith made 3 himself, while Ryker Davis and Alex Munson would make 1 each. Over half of the Panther’s points came from the three-point line in the first half. The Rebels got off to a slow start, but they would chip away at the small deficit and then claim the lead, which they would extend to 33 over 26 at the half. The Rebels got a big boost when Aiden Dierks made a corner three-point shot to end the first half.
MCC came out hitting in the second half, with Tanner Graphenteen making a pair of three-point shots in the second half. The Rebels really rode the offensive play of Tanner Graphenteen and Christian Tentinger, who combined for 18 points in the second half. The Panthers, on the other hand, were scoring almost all of their points from the three-point line or the free-throw line. The Panthers were in the game until late in the second half ,when Aiden Dierks made a pair of three-point shots, the first from the left wing and the second from the right wing. MCC would never look back and they would get the win 61 to 53.
Christian Tentinger led the Rebels with 18 points and 9 rebounds along with 4 blocks. Tanner Graphenteen scored 17 points and dished out 4 assists in the game. Aiden Dierks scored 10 including 6 in the second half. Trevor Smith led the Panthers with 22 points.
