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Wyatt Thompson -
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Cayden Veldhuisen
The MCC Rebel boys basketball team opened their season on Thursday night at home against the Red Rock Central Rebels. The two schools had great football seasons, with both qualifying for the State Tournament. Now, the winter season has begun and the Falcons have started slowly, with 2 straight losses heading into the game against the Rebels, who had yet to play a game. The Rebels would have very little trouble picking up their first win of the season.
MCC played their game without their top returning scorer Aidan Swenson, who would have had a huge advantage in this game. The Falcons tallest starter is just six feet tall. Swenson measures in at 6’5” and with his strength, would have been a load for the Falcons to handle. That said, the Rebels brought Wyatt Thompson into the lineup and at 6’6” the Rebels didn’t get shorter. The Rebels would play great defense in the first half, as they held the Falcons to just 18 first half points and only two players made more than one shot. The Rebels, on the other hand tried to push the tempo and it got them easy baskets. Dugan Kluis scored 13 first half points for the Rebels and three other Rebels scored more than four points. MCC led at the break 38 to 18.
The second half for RRC was about two players. Henry Stavnes made 4 three point shots in the second half on his way to a 14 point half. Finn Batalden, who made a pair of three point shots in the first half, made another in the second, along with six free throws, on his way to a nine point half. The rest of the Falcons scored just two points. The Rebels’ Carter Hanson had a great second half, scoring 14 points. Wyatt Thompson got the start for the Rebels and the big man led MCC with 11 rebounds and 3 blocks, while adding 8 points in a good first game. The Rebels picked up the win 71 to 43.
The MCC Rebels made 12 more shots from the field than the Falcons did, shooting 40% compared to the Falcons 12 makes. The Rebels made 10 more free throws than RRC did, which helped make up the difference at the three point line, where the Falcons made 9 and the Rebels made just 3. A huge difference in this game was rebounding. MCC grabbed 49 rebounds, while the Falcons had just 31. The Rebels were led by Carter Hanson who scored 19, Kluis added 18, and Tristan Behrends scored 12. The Falcons were led by Henry Stavnes who dropped 22 points and Finn Batalden added 15. The Rebels will play Monday and Tuesday on the road at Pipestone and HLOF.
