BOYS START WEEK WITH HOME LOSS

The MCC Rebel Boys were back at home on Monday taking on the top team in the Red Rock Conference to this point in the season. The Hills Beaver Creek Patriots were 9-0 on the season coming into the game and one of two undefeated teams in the conference. The Rebels would play them tough but the Patriots showed off why they are the top team in the conference and one of the favorites in Section 3A.

The Rebels did a great job playing with the Patriots in the first half. MCC never led in the game but for the first 18 minutes they kept themselves in the game by playing hard and getting the ball in the paint. The Rebels struggled to stop the Patriots. Maybe you can’t completely stop them, but rather slow them down. Jamin Metzger scored a quick 12 points for the Patriots to get them in the lead and the rest of the team helped out with some key made shots. Brodie Metzger hit a pair of early 3’s to keep the Patriots in front. The Rebels were led by their two big men inside. Aidan Swenson and Wyatt Thompson scored eight points each in the first half and they kept the Rebels close for a while. Tayden Beerman came in and hit a pair of three point shots to give the Rebels some life, but at the half the Patriots led 33 to 26.

The second half would see Swenson pick up his third and fourth fouls early and that hurt the Rebels because Swenson lost some of his feel in the game. He scored just four points in the second half and he did not have the same touch. Dugan Kluis scored ten second half points for the Rebels and Tayden Beerman made two more three point shots, but it was simply not enough. The Patriots took advantage of so many mistakes by scoring after the Rebels made them. Jamin Metzger scored 11 second half points on his way to a game high 23 points, while Brodie Metzger added 11 to finish with 17. The Rebels would make a late push to get within 15 points of the Patriots and Riggins Rhealt scored 11 points almost in a row, to keep the Rebels in the back seat. HBC would remain undefeated after beating the Rebels 81 to 60.

The Rebels and the Patriots were separated by three key stats. The Patriots out shot the Rebels from the field 49% to 41% and though the teams made the same number of three point shots, the Patriots took fewer to get theirs. MCC turned the ball over seven more times than the Patriots and HBC scored on over half of the Rebels mistakes. Finally, the Patriots also out rebounded the Rebels in this game. The Rebels had four players score in double figures for one of the first times this year. Swenson, Kluis, and Beerman each had 12 points and Thompson had 10. The Patriots were led by Jamin Metzgers 23 points, Brodie Metzgers 17, Riggin Rhealt 16, and EJ Wegener who scored 10. The Rebels are now 6-4 on the season and will play RTR at home on Thursday.