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Owen Gillette
The Rebels traveled to Lamberton Monday night to face the 8-6 Falcons. Red Rock had won 6 out of 7 games coming into the contest. MCC would come into the game with a .500 record at 7-7, coming off a win against Adrian/Ellsworth.
MCC started the game forcing a turnover on defense, not a steal, but forcing a bad pass. This would be part of the flow of the night for the Rebels as constant pressure would lead to travels, non-committal passes, and some steals.
MCC jumped out to a 4-2 lead on baskets from Bryce Hoekman and Carter Lewis, before RRC tied the game on one of many alley-oop attempts behind the 2-3 zone the Rebels were playing. MCC answered right back with a smooth Hudson Schyrvers 12 foot jumper.
MCC earned a stop on defense before Hoekman found Ross Engelkes for three, putting the Rebels up 9-4 early in the first half. MCC forced another turnover, but would come up empty on the possession. RRC scored on their next possession and the score sat at 9-6 for the next couple minutes as some sloppy play ensued, with each team forcing the issue on offense and turning the ball over.
Hoekman got the Rebels into double figures with a free throw. Then, a transition bucket would be finished by Ross Engelkes after a Hoekman rebound. Hoekman threw the ball to Aidan Dierks who passed it cross court to Englekes for the lay-in. The ball touched the floor one time on its way to the basket.
This was not a night for the “big men” pertaining to foul trouble. Both teams spent huge chunks of time without their starting 4 and 5 men as well as their backups. Bryce Hoekman and Aidan Swenson for the Rebels would accrue 4 and 5 fouls respectively.
MCC would have to find a different way to compete. What was most noticeable without the post presence was the sporadic rebounding. MCC got out-rebounded by 7, 37-30 and gave up some high percentage shots from the blocks as they worked their way through a different rhythm and flow to the game.
There were times of frustration for sure, when the Rebels would give up offensive rebounds and put backs and sometimes spend almost a minute on defense giving up multiple offensive rebounds. But, it seemed like every time there was a moment of frustration, the Rebels would quickly answer back on the offensive end.
Ross Engelkes, Owen Gillette, and Gavin Gillette all knocked down timely threes in the first half. Although it was a low scoring half, MCC would go into the break up 28-26.
The second half looked a lot like the first, except RRC took the lead after a three point shot by the Falcons. This is when Aidan Dierks made his presence felt from beyond the arc and answered right back to retake the lead by two.
The Rebels continued to pressure the Falcons on defense and racked up multiple stops, growing a 35-29 lead before the Falcons hit another bucket. The two teams went back and forth for the next several minutes, as MCC would push the lead to 7 on multiple occasions and RRC would bring it back to within 4 or 5. At the 6:33 mark in the game the score was 4843, MCC.
With under two minutes remaining, the game was at a 6 point difference at 55-47. Aidan Dierks scored with a minute to go. The Falcons fouled Carter Lewis on the next inbound and he drilled both free throws. MCC got another stop and Gavin Gillette was sent to the line for the bonus shots, delivering on both. MCC would earn the tough road win 60-51.
Leading Scorers: Aidan Dierks and Ross Engelkes with 13 each. Carter Lewis with 11 & Gavin Gillette with 9 Leading Rebounders: Bryce Hoekman with 9, Ross Engelkes, Carter Lewis, and Gavin Gillette with 4 Leading Assists: Aidan Dierks with 4 Leading Steals: Aidan Dierks with 2
