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The Rebels have faced three strong teams to start the season with a combined winning percentage of 86 percent. Mountain Lake Area Comfrey was next on the schedule with a 3-0 record which bumps the winning percentage to 90. This would be the Rebels first home game as well as their first Red Rock Conference game and what a memorable one it would be.
The Rebels would lose the tip, but get a stop with a steal and coast to coast lay-up from Aiden Dierks. On the next possession MLAC would drill one of many threes on the night. They shot 41 in the contest. Ross Engelkes would hit a turnaround jumper after he gobbled up an offensive rebound and the Wolverines would follow with another two of their own.
The game would have its moments of chaotic basketball as the teams would trade some forced shots and some turnovers before the next basket was scored. It would be the first two of 39 for Bryce Hoekman, who had a career night. Hoekman would also add 11 rebounds.
This was a game of runs throughout the contest, with the Rebels up 6-5, MLAC would hit another three to take the lead. Gavin Gillette would answer with a nice attack and finish off the glass, but the Wolverines would answer with another wide open three. The Rebels struggled to get matched up at times in transition and over helped with slow recoveries on defense, especially in the first half. It looked like shooting practice from time to time for MLAC who did a fantastic job executing their offense. Hoekman would score another bucket with an and-1, which was followed by, surprise surprise, another MLAC three.
The Rebels would turn it over twice before MLAC would connect on an and-1 of their own to go up 17-10. The teams would trade misses until Hudson Schryvers would get a putback two off a short corner missed shot. MLAC would answer with yet another wide open three to go up 20-12. After a Rebels miss, MLAC would quickly get into transion and get an easy two, this would be followed by a Rebels turnover.
The Rebels defense would answer and force a turnover of their own which would end up with a Ross Engelkes attack and two free throws. He would drain them both. The Rebels would switch to a zone defense, but 20 seconds into the shot clock the Wolverines shredded it with a high post pass to the short corner, which is exactly where you can’t let the ball go without being there on the catch as a defender. More ball pressure and better awareness was needed.
The two teams would trade buckets and Hoekman would use great touch to score again by a nice post entry feed. The Rebels were down 9 at this point, but the Wolverins would stay sharp and knock down another 3! This time putting the Rebels at their largest disadvantage of 12. But Owen Gillette would come into the game and answer right back with a huge 3 to bring it back to 9 at 29-20.
MCC would start a big run of their own. Another Hoekman bucket would cut it to 7. The defense would string together stops before Gavin Gillette would earn a trip to the stripe and knock down both. Another stop was followed by a Hoekman 15 foot baseline jumper, which was followed by another stop. The score was now 26-29 MLAC. Engelkes after some weaving action, turned the corner down the lane and finished a strong lay-up to cut it to one.
A turnover would ensue by the Rebels and a third foul on Aidan Dierks prevented a break away lay-up. MLAC would not score on this ensuing possession so the foul turned out to be an important one. MCC would find Hoekman for another two, to take the lead with 5 minutes remaining in the half.
The action wasn’t done yet, MLAC would take a 35-33 lead before the Rebels would finish the half on a 6-0 run to go into the break up 4, 39-35.
It was a physical and spirited ball game up to this point and there was still another half to go to sort it all out.
The second half would start similar to the first as a Rebel defender would get lost on defense and give up a wide open three. Just like that it was a one point game 30 seconds into the half. Aidan Dierks would answer right back 20 seconds later with his own three point make.
MLAC would score another two with some nice backside action ending with a screen away and curl cut, the first shot was missed but the Wolverines would clean the glass and get a put back for two. 42-40 just a 1:30 into the half.
A bad turnover on the next Rebel possession would not turn into any points for the Wolverines, and it would be followed by an impressive 15 footand- 1 jumper by Hoekman. His steady play never waivered. He ended the game shooting 81% from the field.
With the Rebels up 45-40, MLAC was really doubling down hard on Hoekman, this left Ross Engelkes open for wing three, which he connected on, giving the Rebels their biggest lead of the game at 8. MLAC would start to attack the basket and earned 3 points from the foul line before Hoekman would drill a 10 foot jump shot.
The Rebels would give up three offensive rebounds on the next possession which fortunately didn’t turn into any points. MCC would not score on the ensuing possession and would turn over MLAC. A jump ball occurred when Carter Lewis would get tied up on his attack to the basket before a 5 second call on the inbound would give the ball back to MLAC.
The score was 50-43 with 13 minutes remaining. Some rough and tumble play followed which ended up with a MCC turnover. MLAC would follow with a nice 16 foot jumper to bring the lead to 5 for the Rebels. But Gavin Gillette would attack and answer quickly for the Rebels, he would clean the glass on the other end, outlet the ball to Aidan Dierks who would find a rim running Hoekman for the lob pass, alley oop for two more. Rebels were up 9, but MLAC would drill another deep three. 54-48.
There is still 11 minutes remaining in the game. The Rebels would struggle for the next couple minutes, with 9 to go the game was tied at 56 and with under 8 to go the Rebels trailed 60-58. Then down four with under 7 minutes remaining before Ross Engelkes would attack and draw the foul. This would happen on two straight possessions, unfortunately for the Rebels they would come away with no points. This was a bit of a theme as the Rebels went 1430 from the foul line.
MLAC would attack and score again going up 6, but Gavin Gillette would answer again with two of his own. But the Wolverines will drill another 3 to go up 7 with 5:40 remaining. MCC was able to get the ball to Hoekman who found the bottom of the next again with a turnaround jump shot. Hoekman would gobble up an offensive rebound on the next possession and go on a 4-0 run. Under five to play it was a three point game.
MCC would turn the ball over and give up 4 offensive rebounds on the next possession which led to a MLAC bucket to go up 69-64 with 4:30 left.
The Rebels would answer back with a big three from Aidan Dierks from the corner, but MLAC would get two of their own. Hoekman would answer back to keep it a two point game. MCC would earn a stop on defense before Dierks would find Hoekman for two and the tie. 3:36 left, game was tied at 71. The unstoppable Hoekman would score again from a nice post entry feed to give the Rebels a two point advantage with under three to play. The two teams would trade misses before Mountain Lake would again gather up offensive rebounds, but the Rebel defense would dig in and get a stop.
Hoekman would be fouled on the next possession and earn two from the line. 75-71 MCC with two minutes remaining. Gavin Gillette would snare a defensive rebound to stop the next MLAC possession.
A long three from the Rebels would just miss giving MLAC back the ball with under two to play. A nice sweeping and-1, lay-up cut the lead to 2 with 1:26 to play. The Rebels would turn the ball over on the next possession putting the pressure on their defense. The Rebels would get the stop and the fouling would ensue with 42 seconds left. The Rebels could ice the game from the foul line. Hudson Schryvers would hit 2 free throws to put the Rebels up 77-73. But an uncontested three would follow to bring the lead to 1.
MCC would turn it over as a weaker pass was not met and the Wolverines would steal it, attack the basket, and get fouled. Down one they had a chance to tie or take the lead with 27 seconds left. They missed both as Hoekman cleared the boards. With 18 seconds left the Rebels were fouled.
Gavin Gillette would go to the stripe and miss both but Ross Engelkes would earn an offensive rebound. Ross would make both clutch shots, putting the Rebels up 3 with 15 seconds left. 79-76.
MCC would deny the inbounds and make the Wolverines use 5 seconds to get across half court where they used a foul as they were not in the bonus yet. The Rebels would then force a turnover, get the ball in, and return to the free throw line. They would miss both, but Engelkes again snared an offensive rebound. Unfortunately again the Rebels would miss both. With 2 seconds left MLAC would call a timeout and draw up a full court play, that hudson Schryvers would intercept and end the contest. MCC 79, MLAC 76. What a game!
Leading Scorers: Bryce Hoekman, 39 Gavin Gillette, 12 Aidan Dierks, 11 Ross Engelkes, 10 Leading Rebounders: Bryce Hoekman, 11 Ross Engelkes, 9, Gavin Gillette and Hudson Schyrvers 7, Aidan Dierks 6 Leading Assists: Aidan Dierks 7, Hudson Schryvers 5, Ross Engelkes, 4 Leading Steals: Ross Engelkes, 2
