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CHANT MITCHELL
Monday night the Rebel B-Squad and Varsity were in action against Red Rock Central in a Red Rock Conference basketball game. Both teams would look to improve off of wins from last week in Edgerton.
The B-Squad would get off to a bit of a slow start. Both teams would, as solid defense and stationary offense made baskets hard to come by for both teams. When the dust settled at halftime it was 12-12. Bryce Hoekman led the Rebels with 4, first half points. Dylan Kramer, Ben Ahlers, Carter Lewis, and Ross Englekes each added two.
To start the second half, the Rebels would get off to a fast start scoring 8 points in about 60 seconds. A strong defensive effort would continue, as MCC would only allow 11 second half points to the Rebels 23. Ross Englekes had a strong second half turning defense into transition offense scoring 9, second half points. Hoekman would add 6 more, Kramer, Ahlers, Michael Risacher, and Jesse Kline would each chip in with two points. MCC would earn the win 35-23.
The varsity would be looking to make it two straight in the conference as RRC came to town. Like the B-Squad the varsity would get off to a bit of a slow start, looking just a step slow in their press and 23 zone. The Rebels gave up the first 5 points of the game before connecting on their own bucket. Not long after going down 5-0 the Rebels switched to man defense which made execution seem tougher for RRC. Defense turned into offense and Christian Tentinger would score in transition a couple of different times. Aidan Dierks would find his range against the zone, knocking down 2, three-point shots and added another attack and score off the dribble for a solid 8 point first half. Chant Mitchell would drop in 6 first half points, Nate Kleven would have another solid night rebounding, especially on the offensive end, scoring 4 first half points off of put-backs, and Connor Degreef would round off the scoring with a baseline attack, which would earn him a trip to the free throw line. Degreef would drill both.
MCC would end the half with 30 points, while holding RRC to 20, a solid first half for the Rebels, but they were plagued by fouls. MCC had 10 in the first half, Tanner Graphenteen would pick up two early and would sit most of the half, Abe Paulzine, Nate Kleven, and Chant Mitchell would also all end the half with two. With RRC being in the double bonus, they were only able to connect on 4, free throws in the first half of 9 as the Rebels were 4-4 from the charity stripe.
The second would actually play out quite similar to the first for both teams, as the Rebels would foul a lot, 12 second half fouls, but RRC would only connect on 4 of those free throw attempts just like in the first half. RRC ended the game 8-22 from the foul line as MCC ended up 5-8. The second half would also feature an Abe Paulzine three-point onslaught! Paulzine would drill 3 from downtown at key times giving the Rebels energy when they needed it most. Along with Paulzine’s shooting, Chant Mitchell would orchestrate some nice passing from the high post, finding Nate Kleven and Christian Tentinger for some easy buckets throughout the second half. Mitchell would lead the team with 4 assists on the night.
When it was all said and done the Rebels had a very balanced attack on offense, with eight players contributing in the score column. MCC would earn the 58-45 win, moving them into a first place tie in the Red Rock Conference at 5-1 with Mountain Lake Area Comfrey and Southwest Christian, who the Rebels host next.
Scoring Leaders: Christian Tentinger and Chant Mitchell 15 each, Abe Paulzine 9, Aidan Dierks and Nate Kleven 8 each, Connor Degreef and Tanner Graphenteen 2 each. Rebounding Leaders: Nate Kleven and Chant Mitchell 8 each, Christian Tentinger 7. Assist Leaders: Chant Mitchell 4, Nate Kleven 2. Steals Leaders: Christian Tentinger, Abe Paulzine, and Aidan Dierks each had 4
