REBEL BOYS BASKETBALL COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH DEFENDING CHAMPS

The defending Class A state champs came to town on Tuesday night for a Red Rock Conference match-up, featuring the 6-4 Knights and the 6-6 Rebels. RTR came into the game with a 25 point win over Lakeview as the Rebels came into the tilt with a 7 point loss to TMB.

MCC would start the game with a solid possession featuring ball reversals, which led to a screen away from Hudson Schryvers into a curl cut ,a great read from Ross Engelkes on the curl cut as his defender trailed him to the basket. Aidan Dierks had the ball on the opposite wing and delivered a dime for the lay-up. Great action to start the game by the offense.

MCC would force a turnover on defense but would not be able to capitalize on it. The Rebels next possession was a reflection of the struggles on the night as MCC turned the ball over on questionable passing. Most of these passes would be on the top of the key that were stolen and turned into instant offense for the Knights. MCC had over 20 turnovers on the night which led to a minimum of 20 transition points for RTR.

Regardless, MCC would put together more stops in the halfcourt defense and get out to a 6-2 lead. RTR answered with a tough contested fall away jump shot from 14 feet before the Rebels connected on a free throw and a Carter Lewis 15 foot corner jump shot. 9-4 MCC at the 15 minute mark.

The Rebels gave up three offensive rebounds in the next minute, dropped a great pass that would have led to a layup, which turned into transition offense for the Knights. On the next MCC possession, the Rebels threw a skip pass from the short corner diagonally to the opposite wing straight out of bounds. RTR scored on their next possession and took their first lead at 10-9.

A missed three by the Rebels would lead to more transition offense for the Knights. MCC didn’t sprint back and get matched up, leaving a wide open Knight at the top of the key for an uncontested three.

The turnovers on passes would continue and the next thing you know it’s 19-11 RTR at the 11 minute mark. When MCC got set up in their halfcourt defense, they answered back. With 8:22 to go, Owen Gillette drilled a three and the game stood at 23-18 RTR. The game would stay at that 5-7 point differential range for the next handful of minutes.

The turnovers again would plague MCC and give the Knights the opportunity to get out in transition and run. They took full advantage and pushed the lead to 36-23 with 3:41 to go.

All of the empty possessions for MCC put them in the situation of playing catch-up constantly, but they kept battling. The Rebels went on a 6-0 run and held RTR to 36 points until the literal last second of the half! MCC had its chances to cut the lead down even more, but had shots go in and out on a couple of occasions. But they ended possessions with shots consistently and were able to get into their half court defense.

An unfortunate circumstance led to an RTR three at the buzzer to end the half, where the ball sometimes doesn’t bounce the way you want it too. Ross Engelkes played the pick and roll about as well as you can, making the dribbler give the ball up, he tried to pass over Engelkes, but Ross deflected it. The ball bounced back to the dribbler who found himself open for the three with no time remaining.

MCC started the second half with a Bryce Hoekman shot, offensive rebound and put back to get the scoring started. 12 seconds in, the score was RTR 39, MCC 31. RTR answered with a post entry give-and-go to quickly push the lead to 10 again. After a dropped pass on the MCC end turned into a jump ball, RTR scored again, but Aidan Dierks answered with a three ball. Rebels are now plus 1, two minutes into the half. Hudson Schyrvers attacked the baseline on a nice pass from Dierks on the next possession to put MCC at plus 3 and down only 7. The Rebels got another stop in the half court and executed their offense into a wide open corner three. The shot missed its mark and RTR would release a player in transition for the easy defensive rebound and outlet pass for the lay-up. MCC answered on their next possession with a 8 foot jump shot, as Carter Lewis slipped into the soft spot of the zone and drained the bucket. 45, 38, RTR with under 15 minutes to go.

MCC earned another stop on defense, but forcing a congested and contested lay-up in transition would lead to a foul, as RTR had numbers going the other way. The Knights connected on 1 of 2 from the line. MCC answered back, as Bryce Hoekman earned a trip to the foul line and drilled both. 4640 RTR with 14 minutes to go. MCC was plus 4, 4 minutes into the half.

The Rebels got a little careless in their defensive communication, giving up a lay-up. But MCC would keep battling. Aidan Dierks hit another three, but RTR answered back with a couple buckets of their own. At the 12 minute mark RTR was up 9, and the Rebels were plus one, 7 minutes into the half.

This is where the aforementioned turnovers started to become an issue. Not all turnovers are created equal, in my mind quick shots, contested unbalanced shots, are just as much of a turnover as any stolen pass or dribble if they don’t go in. These types of plays would lead to a huge RTR run.

With 8 minutes left, the Rebels were down 19, at 66 to 47 and would never fully recover. The lead stayed around the 20 range for the rest of the game. Final score read RTR 84 and MCC 59. The score was lopsided when it was all said and done, but opportunities for consistency, learning, and growth are littered throughout this ball game.

MCC leading scorers: Bryce Hoekman with 19, Aidan Dierks with 10, and Carter Lewis with 9.

Leading Rebounders: Bryce Hoekman with 6, Aidan Dierks with 4 Leading Assists: Ross Engelkes with 4 and Aidan Dierks with 2 Leading Steals: Aidan Dierks with 2