BOYS LOSE LAST REGULAR SEASON GAME

It was Senior night for the Rebels as MCC was able to honor Ben Ahlers, Bryce Hoekman, Carter Lewis, Aidan Dierks, Ross Engelkes, Owen Gillette, Michael Risacher, and Thomas Huso for their time and efforts to the Boys Basketball Program. There was a great crowd on hand and the game was exciting and full of energy.

We also want to congratulate the C-Squad and B-Squad for their efforts and commitment as their seasons came to an end Monday night against SWC.

The B-Squad finished the year 15-8. The combined total points the B-Squad lost by in 7 of those 8 games, was 24 points. An average of 3.4 ppg. A highly competitive season for this crew. The B-squad had two, three game winning streaks and a season high 9 game winning streak as well.

The C-Squad finished their season with a 19-1 record. The lone loss came in the Freshman Conference Tournament Championship against HBC.

The varsity was looking to avenge an ugly loss down in Edgerton and give a much more spirited effort on the seniors last home game of their careers. The final score may not have been what everyone wanted, but the team competed well and had their chances to win.

Both teams traded turnovers on their first two possessions before Carter Lewis grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on the put-back to put the Rebels up 2-0 with just over 17 minutes to go in the first half. SWC answered quickly, as they found the soft spot in the zone and scored on a 10 foot floater in the middle of the lane. MCC turned it over again on their next possession with a 10 second violation. Turnovers would hamper the Rebels in this game. They didn’t always lead to transition points for the Eagles like they did in Edgerton, but MCC lost 25 opportunities to end a possession with a shot.

SWC pushed the lead to 9-2 before Hudson Schyrvers hit a three with 14:25 remaining in the half. This would be the lone three of the game for the Rebels, while SWC would hit 8 of them.

Aidan Dierks finished the tough and-1 a couple possessions later and connected on the free throw to bring the game to 8-9 SWC, with 13:28 to go. MCC gave up an uncontested three on the following possession before Bryce Hoek-man answered back with an and-1 opportunity of his own. He would not make the free throw, but the Rebels did get a stop and push the ball in transition and find the rim running, Hoekman for a nice catch, spin and finish to tie the game at 12 with 12:40 to go.

SWC again found the soft spot in the zone, as the Rebels did not rotate from the back side and take the lead back. Hoekman scored 10 seconds later on the putback.

SWC scored from the block on their next possession to go back up 2 at 16-14. The Rebels did not score on their next possession as a jumper rattled in and out. MCC did force a turnover against the Eagles, that would turn into a Hudson Schyrvers offensive rebound and put back from an airballed three. 16-16 with 11 minutes to play.

The Rebels forced another turnover, but gave it right back with a turnover of their own. MCC earned a stop, but then turned it over again with weak passing and receiving of the ball.

The Eagles went on a 5-0 run before Ross Engelkes could find the streaking Bryce Hoekman in transition for the two handed jam!. 21-18 with 8 minutes to play. SWC answered back with a three. The two teams would battle back and forth for the remainder of the half and the SWC lead stayed right where it was at the 8 minute mark, going into halftime. 36-33.

The Rebels got a stop on the first possession of the second half, but turned it over, by giving up an offensive rebound which led to a SWC three. Unfortunately, the next basket was another SWC three before Bryce Hoekman laid in a bucket from the block. At the 15:30 mark it was 42-35, SWC.

SWC scored again on their next possession to go up nine before Ross Engelkes showed some nifty footwork under the basket to connect on the shot jumper.

MCC forced a turnover on their next defensive possession but gave it back instantaneously, which led to another SWC three. Tough break for the Rebels. 47-37 with 14 minutes remaining. SWC scored again, going up 12, as it would be danger time for the Rebels. SWC knocked down one of two from the foul line to go up 13 and the lead went back and forth between 13-11 for the next couple minutes. The defense would step up and force multiple stops before Ross Engelkes attacked the basket and finished at the rim, drawing contact and the foul. He made the free throw. Engelkes struck again only seconds later, as he stole the ball in the full court press and made a great pass to Gavin Gillette for the easy two.

MCC pulled within 8 at the 10:40 mark, 44-52. Neither team scored for the next couple minutes until Bryce Hoekman knocked down one of two free throws at the 8:10 mark. Hoekman scored the next two points at the 7:13 mark, pulling the Rebels to within 6, but SWC would break down the zone and knock down a 10 foot jumper.

MCC, unfortunately, turned the ball over on their next three possessions. The defense played tough as the score was 57-47 before Hoekman scored again off the feed from Gavin Gillette at the 5 minute mark, pulling the score to within 8 again.

SWC answered back, as a steal on the backside of the zone, turned into an and-1 opportunity for the Eagles, which they connected on to push the lead back up to 8. The Eagles scored again to go up 13. With 4:30 left, the Rebels needed to find one last push. Aidan Dierks knocked down a jumper and the Rebels put the full court pressure on. MCC got a stop and turned it into transition, as Dierks earned a trip to the foul line. He would miss both. But MCC forced another turnover and then another. With 3 minutes remaining, the score was 62-51.

Ross Engelkes scored next as he drove baseline, jump stopped, gave a head and shoulder fake, drew the contact and scored. He would miss the free throw.

MCC gave up a back breaking three on the next possession, but Dierks attacked one more time and earned a trip to the foul line. He would make both, cutting the lead to 10 with 2 minutes to go.

The Rebels never gave up and competed at a high level, just had too much to overcome with turnovers, rebounding, and a tough night from beyond the arc. To still be in the game against the solid SWC Eagles was a testament to the Rebels grit. MCC would fall 59-68.

Leading Scorers: Bryce Hoekman with 22, Ross Engelkes with 11, Aidan Dierks with 9 Leading Rebounders: Bryce Hoekman with 12, Ross Engelkes with 7, Aidan Dierks, Aidan Swenson, and Hudson Schyrvers with 4 Leading Assists: Aidan Dierks with 5. Leading Steals: Hudson Schryvers and Carter Lewis with 2 each.