REBEL BOYS LOSE BATTLE AGAINST MLA/C

The Rebel boys basketball team would travel to Mountain Lake Friday night for the rematch of two Red Rock Central teams. MCC edged out MLAC in Slayton 79-76 in the first meeting which would prove to be MLAC’s only loss to this point of the season.

This game started off with both teams earning stops on defense. Solid defense would force tough shots and both teams would grab the defensive rebound to end the possession. On the Rebels next possession, Carter Lewis kicked the scoring off with a nice attack from the top of the key and hit the 10 runner. MCC got another stop before Ross Engelkes earned a trip to the foul line where he connected on 1 of 2.

Then an all too familiar sight occured on the Rebels next defensive trip, as they gave up an offensive rebound which led to MLAC’s first bucket of the game. At the 15 minute mark the score read 3-2, Rebels. Hudson Schryvers connected on 2 from the charity stripe on MCC’s next possession to push the early lead to 5-2.

The Wolverines connected on a contested jump shot on their next trip, which would be followed by consecutive stops by both teams. On the Rebels defensive rebound, Aidan Dierks pushed the ball in transition, putting the Wolverines on their heels. He found Ross Engelkes on the opposite wing with the pass. Engelkes attacked the long closeout and finished the lay-up to put the Rebels up 9-4.

The Rebels looked sharp, but the pesky offensive rebound would show its face again on the Rebels next defensive possession. MCC forced two misses, but didn’t grab the board on either, which led to a Bryce Hoekman foul. On the Rebels next offensive possession, Hoekman got called for an offensive foul. It was a tough call, but just like that, with 13:28 to play and the score at 9-5, MCC was without its leading scorer on the year and rim defender.

MLAC went on a huge run as the Rebels struggled to find their rhythm. The Rebels were down 19 at the break, 45 to 26. But the great thing about this Rebels team is, they do not know how to quit. Down 19 to the top ten ranked, one loss Wolverines squad would be enough for some to say, better luck next time, but MCC made a game of it.

MLAC started the scoring in the second half with a circustype and-one shot in transition to go up 21. MCC would stack up a bunch of stops on defense, 2 before the bucket and 5 after, before MLAC scored again. The only problem was, the Rebels didn’t get their first bucket until the 13:33 mark of the half. An and-one by Aidan Dierks. He would connect on the free throw.

The defense made it tough on MLAC, but at the 12:15 mark, the score was still a 19 point deficit, just like at the start of the half. But the Rebels were about to go on a run of their own. The defense continued to play strong and shots started dropping for the Rebels and a certain energy and confidence started to shine through.

With 8:11 to go the Rebels were down 54-38. Then it was 54-41 with 7:39 to play. At the 6:34 mark it was 56-45. Then, with 6 minutes left, it was 5648. MCC wasn’t done yet. They just kept coming. The two teams would trade buckets, keeping the deficit at 8. Then Aidan Dierks hit Bryce Hoekman for the unconventional alley-oop. Hoekman caught the high arching pass from about 6 feet from the basket and shot it in. At the four minute mark the score was 56-50.

MLAC connected on a contested lay-in to go back up 8, before Carter Lewis drilled a right wing three 58-53. MLAC answered right back to push the lead back to 8. The two teams would go back and forth all the way to the 30 second mark left in the game, when MCC had to foul to put the Wolverines to the line. Down as many as 23 in the second half, the Rebels ran out of time to make the comeback complete, losing by 9, 67-58.

Leading Scorers: Aidan Dierks with 18, Ross Engelkes with 15, Bryce Hoekman with 12 Leading Rebounders: Bryce Hoekman with 8, Hudson Schyrvers with 6, Aidan Dierks with 5, Leading Steals: Aidan Dierks with 2 Leading Assists: Aidan Dierks, Carter Lewis, and Hudson Schyrvers each had 2.