REBEL BOYS BASKETBALL VS RTR

MCC 12 RTR 12

The reigning three time Section Champions came to Slayton Thursday night for a Red Rock Conference showdown between the 8-2 Rebels and 6-2 Knights. RTR came into the game with losses to the #2 ranked team in Class A, Dawson-Boyd and the 7-1 Hills Beaver Creek Patriots. Both teams came into the game allowing only 50 points per game on average, which would rank them both in the top 10 in the state as of Thursday.

The Rebels had a chance to get off to a great start offensively, but couldn’t convert on two steals that led to high percentage shots at the rim. Unfortunately for the Rebels instead of taking momentum early and going up 4-0, they would fall behind 6-0 by the 14:45 mark. Carson Engelkes got the Rebels on the board at this point, when Hudson Schryvers hit the rolling Engelkes, who did a nice job sealing his man after the pick and roll, caught the pass from Schryvers and laid in the deuce off the glass.

The Rebels cut the lead to 1 after Schryvers took a charge on the defensive end and Gavin Gillette drilled a left corner three on the following possession. Every time the Rebels would build momentum, it seemed to be cut short by poor passing, whether it be a live ball pass or a dead ball pass from an out of bounds play. This trend would continue all game long.

Both defenses played tough for the next several minutes as the score remained 6-5 until the 10 minute mark, when RTR picked the Rebels pocket at the top of the key and finished a lay-up and contact for the and-1 opportunity. This sparked a bit of a Knight run. In a low scoring first half, RTR had a 17-7 lead with just under five minutes to go in the half before Aidan Swenson knocked in a right block bunny off a nice lob, post entry pass from Dylan Kluis.

Soon after another Rebels stop on defense, Gavin Gillette drilled another three, this time from the top of the key, bringing the score to 17-12. Gillette hit another three, bringing his total to 9 points in the half, which would lead the Rebels and get them to their halftime total of 15 points. Only two other Rebels scored in the first half, Carson Engelkes with two and Aidan Swenson with 4. MCC’s defense kept them in the game, only allowing the Knights to score 21 first half points. Not the most aesthetically pleasing half of basketball, but you had to appreciate both teams’ effort level. MCC had to battle some first half foul trouble as Gavin Gillette, Hudson Schyrvers, and Carson Engelkes all had to sit extended minutes on the bench with two fouls, which can be challenging, especially on the offensive end. Even so, next man up and all players have the ability to play great defense.

The second half started off with a Rebels bucket on the first possession as Hudson Schryvers secured an offensive rebound and scored directly after securing it. RTR would score on their first possession as well, with a 15 foot jumper. Both teams would defend well on the next several possessions.

Dylan Kluis broke the 2-2 tie off a left wing attack and used the glass with a nice floater to cut the lead to 4. 23-19. Shortly after, RTR hit another 15 foot jumper and the Rebels gave the momentum completely back off a poor pass and reception on the inbound after the make. The Knights made it hurt and hit another jumper to take the 25-19 lead with 14:30 to go. Gavin Gillette answered back with a nice attack and finish of his own. The Rebels defense would follow that up by forcing a Knight turnover with a steady press defense, earning the 10 second violation call. MCC had a chance on the following inbound play with a wide open corner three. Unfortunately, it would not drop, but Aidan Swenson who was outstanding on the glass all night long, secured a tough offensive rebound and earned a trip to the foul line. He would go 1-2 cutting the lead to 27-22.

RTR answered back with a big three, pushing the lead to 8. In a game like this anything close to double digits was a big deficit. The Rebels got another stop on defense and had a chance to keep cutting into the lead, but turned it over on a post entry pass on their next possession. RTR scored and was fouled on their next possession. They converted the and-1, going up 33-24.

As challenging as it was for the Rebels at times, they kept competing. Gillette answered back with another three, cutting the lead to 6 with just under 13 minutes to play, 33-27. MCC forced a turnover on their next defensive possession, but gave it right back with a turnover of their own. Sometimes they just couldn’t get out of their own way. Compounding things, RTR earned another and-1 opportunity on the very next possession.

MCC had opportunities to cut into the lead from the foul line, but struggled to do so. As a team they shot a dismal 3-11. Can’t happen in a highly competitive game like this one. RTR shot 12-18 from the foul line.

But the Rebels kept on battling, falling behind by 10 with 11 minutes to play, sometimes the ball wouldn’t bounce MCC’s way. Multiple tipped balls seemed to escape the grasp of the Rebels and would end up in the Knights hands, which seemed to end up with hustling Rebels picking up tough foul calls.

The Rebels went on a 4-0 run cutting the lead to 6 again at 39-33 with under 7 minutes to go. Tristan Behrends drilled a baseline jumper, giving MCC momentum going into the final minutes of the game. MCC got another stop, but after a Swenson rebound the ball would be jarred out, which is tough to do with his strength and ended up with a 4-point play opportunity for RTR. They missed the free throw, again one of those situations where MCC would grab momentum and lose it quickly thereafter.

The Rebels couldn’t find the bottom of the net on the next couple possessions and RTR earned another double digit lead with 5 minutes to play at 11, but MCC would not quit competing. You could tell, the Rebels believed they were never out of the game.

Aidan Swenson connected on a smooth baby hook shot for two, he would have a chance to go on a 4-0 run with two free throw attempts on the next possession. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t fall. MCC got another stop on defense and Hudson Schryvers secured an offensive rebound off his own miss on the Rebels next offensive possession. He scored on a great spin move off a right baseline drive, but that would be wiped away by a tough traveling violation call.

MCC stole the ball on their next defensive possession and Max Miller drilled a long 2 for the Rebels on the next offensive possession. Just had a couple inches over the three point line. This game had so many moments and possessions that could have been game changing. But even so with three minutes to go the score was RTR 44 and MCC 37.

MCC forced another turnover, but couldn’t convert it into points on the next possession. The Rebels would get another stop and earn a trip to the foul line. Hudson Schryvers had a chance at the 1 and 1, but missed the front end. MCC again forced a turnover and again earn a trip to the foul line for the 1 and 1. This time Dylan Kluis had a shot. He missed the front end, but the Rebels battled on the glass and retained possession.

On the inbound play, Schryvers was called on a tough offensive foul, a moving screen violation, giving the ball back to RTR. The defense would earn another stop!

Aidan Swenson earned a trip back to the foul line on the Rebels next possession. He went 1-2 cutting the lead to 38-44 with under two minutes to go. RTR broke their scoring drought on the next possession hitting a 10 foot jumper. With under a minute to go the score was 46-38. MCC had to start playing the foul game. RTR missed two free throws on their next possession after the Rebels fouled with 30 seconds to go. MCC followed this up with a quick two and the foul, with 22 seconds remaining. Dylan Kluis converted on the and-1, cutting the lead to 5 at, 41-46.

The Rebels fouled instantly on the Knights next inbound and they went 1-2 from the foul line. 41-47 with 21 seconds remaining. Gavin Gillette attacked and scored quickly on the Rebels next possession. With 14.1 seconds left the score was 43-47. MCC would call a timeout, their last.

The Rebels forced a turnover on the ensuing inbound play, as the Knights threw it away without anyone touching the ball. MCC got an inbound play under their own basket with 14 seconds left in a four point game. Unfortunately, after inbounding the ball, the Rebels turned it over, essentially ending the game. RTR made two more free throws in the last 14 seconds, securing the 49-45 win.

MCC leading scorers: Gavin Gillette, 18. Aidan Swenson, 14.

MCC leading assists: Hudson Schryvers, 5. Dylan Kluis, 3.

MCC Leading steals: Dylan Kluis, 4, Gavin Gillette, 3.

MCC leading rebounds: Aidan Swenson, 14. Hudson Schryvers, 10.

MCC leading charges: Hudson Schryvers, 1.

MCC shot 36% from the field. 19-53 overall and 4-15 from three. They shot 27% from the line at 3-11. RTR shot 30% from the field. 17-57 overall and 3-21 from three. They shot 67% from the line at 12-18.