MCC GIRLS FALL TO PIPESTONE AT HOME

The MCC Rebel Girls Basketball team played their only game over Christmas break on Thursday night when they played host to the Pipestone Area Arrows. The Arrows came into the game with a 4-2 record with their two losses against Luverne and Montevideo maybe the top two teams in Section 3aa. The Rebels were 2-3 on the season and had over a week and a half between games when they beat Lakeview. The Rebels were the heavy underdog coming into the game and the Arrows would show why.

The Arrows have an experienced team with four players who score in double figures. They have a blend of outside shooting and low post play that is a tough matchup for most teams they play. Do you try to take away the low post knowing you will give up some outside shots or do you try to take away the three-point shot and know you will give up some on the inside? The Rebels decided to try and limit the post touches and hope the Arrows are not hitting from the outside. The game would start with a made threepoint shot by Madelyn Wiese. The outside shots would keep dropping for the Arrows as they would make 7 of 11 three-point shots in the first half. Wiese would make 3 and Jadyn Kor would make another 3. The Rebels struggled early falling behind by 20 points in the first half before they closed the gap over the final ten minutes of the half. Abby Overman scored 11 first-half points and Lilly Daniels added 7. The Arrows would lead at the half 41 to 29.

The Arrows would come out hot to begin the second half. Jadyn Kor couldn’t miss as she would score 12 secondhalf points including another three three-point shots. Arinn McGee the 6’3” Arrow center would score six second-half points most coming on an offensive rebound and putbacks. The Rebels wouldn’t threaten the Arrows’ lead in the second half but the Rebels did use the final ten minutes to get everyone into the game as much as possible. Ava Deacon would play well scoring 7 secondhalf points and fellow freshman Kate Blankenship would score some of her first varsity points. The Rebels would take the loss 76 to 53.

The Rebels turned the ball over 20 times in the game while forcing 17. What really hurt the Rebels was shooting. The Arrows shot 45% from the field and MCC made just 33% of their shots. Pipestone made 12 three-pointers to the Rebels’ 6. The three-point shooting difference alone was 18 points in a 23-point game. The Rebels were led by Overman’s 13 points and 6 rebounds. Lilly Daniels scored a career-high with 10 points while Deacon did the same in scoring 7. The Rebels will travel to Canby to play the Lancers Tuesday night weather permitting before taking on Southwest Christian and Lac Qui Parle Valley later this week.