MCC 68 - Minneota 31
After the Rebels were able to secure a tough win against LQPV on Monday, they returned to the RA Facility to play the Minneota Vikings. Minneota came into the game with a 3-4 mark, defeating YME, HLOF, and WWG. The Vikings had losses to TMB, RCW, Lakeview, and HBC.
The game was off to a sluggish start for the Rebels on the defensive end, giving up a wide open three on their first possession and followed it up by allowing a high post entry and the free throw line for the uncontested 15 foot jumper to fall behind 5-0 less than a minute and half into the game.
The offense was off to a slow start as well, as the flow of the player and ball movement looked to be out of sync. But the defense would settle in, not allowing another Viking point until the 12:30 mark of the first half, while the Rebels had tied the game at 5 with a Aidan Swenson kiss of the glass from the right block and a Max Miller corner three. Both assisted by Hudson Schyrvers.
Minneota took the lead back at 7-5, as poor rotation in the Rebels press gave up an easy basket. MCC answered back quickly and Aidan Swenson earned an and-1 opportunity with a nice finish around the basket and converted on the extra point. MCC was up 8-7 with 12 minutes to play in the half. Little did anyone know, but the Rebels would never look back after gaining their first lead of the game.
Hudson Schryvers drilled a three on the next possession, and followed that up with a steal in the press, which led to another Aidan Swenson paint touch and bucket, forcing a Viking timeout and a 13-7 lead.
The Rebels held the Vikings to just 13 more points in the half, holding them to 20 total, while scoring 20 themselves, taking a 33-20 lead into the break. Five Rebels would score from all places on the court in the first half. Gavin Gillette led the way with 11 first half points, going 5-5 from the foul line. Hudson Schyvers ended the half with 5. Dylan Kluis with 2. Aidan Swenson with 7 and Max Miller with 8. Miller hit 2, threes and Schryvers 1 for a total of three in the half. Cayden Veldhuisen was almost the sixth to score as a ¾ court shot was directly on target, just hitting the front of the rim and bouncing back.
MCC looked to get off to a fast start on the offensive end in the second half, featuring Aidan Swenson and a strong post game. Swenson scored the first two of the half, and add a free throw on the Rebels next possession, going 1-2 from the line. On the third Rebels possession, the defense collapsed on Swenson, Schyrvers reading this, skipped the ball over the defense to an awaiting Gavin Gillette who drilled the left wing three. At the 16:30 mark of the second half, MCC was up 39-20.
MCC changed their offensive look a couple of possessions later, using a hi-low tactic which would find Hudson Schryvers assisting again to Aidan Swenson from the top of the key instead of the wing. MCC took its first 20 plus point lead of the ball game and never looked back. Nine players would score in the second half for the Rebels. The ball and player movement and transition offense was crisp. Gillette added 5, Carter Hanson 3, Tristan Behrends 6, Andrew Holm 3, Dawson Schreier 2, Dylan Kluis 4, Max Miller 3, Aidan Swenson, 7, and Cayden Veldhuisen 2. Max Miller, Tristan Behrends, and Carter Hanson all came into the game and buried three’s. Behrends hit two, helping to extend the Rebels lead.
The defense was actively switching in and out of a zone and a man to man. Staying in front of the ball, helping on both the front side and backside of the defense. Andrew Holm picked up his team leading 4th charge of the season, sparking the defensive intensity. The Rebels held the Vikings scoreless until the 9:20 mark of the second half, with the score sitting at 57 to 23. MCC would earn their second victory at SMSU with a 68-31 performance, extending their win streak to 3 and a 6-2 mark overall heading into the new year. A team effort all the way around.
Leading Scorers: Gavin Gillette, 16. Aidan Swenson, 14. Max Miller, 11.
Leading Rebounders: Aidan Swenson, 9. Hudson Schryvers, 4. Dylan Kluis, Andrew Holm, and Cayden Veldhuisen all had 3.
Leading Assists: Gavin Gillette, 5. Hudson Schyrvers, 4. Carson Engelkes, 3.
Leading Steals: Gavin Gillette, 4. Max Miller, 3. Andrew Holm and Aidan Swenson, 2 each.
Leading Charges: Andrew Holm, 1. (Team Leader with 4 on the season) MCC shot 44% from the field. 24-55 overall and 8-21 from beyond the arc. The Rebels shot 12-15 from the foul line at 80%. Minneota shot 26% from the field. 11-42 overall and 4-14 from beyond the arc. The Vikings shot 4-7 from the foul line at 57%.
