REBELS CELEBRATE WIN OVER LANCERS

The Rebels would finish off their third game in a row at home Friday night vs. an aggressive Canby Lancer team. The Lancers came into the game with a 3-1 record, averaging 62 points per game and were giving up 52, for a plus 10-point differential. The expectations of this game came to fruition as it seems like most Rebels games have this year. Two good teams, battling it out down to the wire.

Canby plays a full court physical style game. Add their effort with some strong shooting and they have a dangerous team. The pressure that puts on a team forces you to constantly make sound decisions. The question would be, would the Rebels be able to make enough winning plays to withstand the inevitable runs that Canby would go on?

MCC would win the tip and get off to an auspicious start. A simple top of the key to wing pass would go right through the Rebels hands into the crowd. Canby took full advantage and drilled a left wing three. Ross Engelkes answered back with a lane attack and finish. The two teams would trade buckets on the next two possessions and both teams had seemed to settle in.

2 minutes in, with the score 5-4 Canby, the teams would dig in and earn consecutive stops before some fantastic footwork by Bryce Hoekman earned him two points off the glass. MCC took their first lead of the game at 6-4.

The Rebels established their identity early by feeding the Senior post player early and often. Hoekman would score again on the next possession, forcing Canby to make a decision early on, double and dig down on Hoekman or take your chances?

Up 8-5, MCC, unfortunately, would not be able to get any post touches on the next three possessions, as turnovers would turn into points for Canby. Still up one at 8-7, the next MCC possession would see a post touch, kick out off the double team, and great perimeter passing, which led to a late closeout and a big three from Gavin Gillette.

After some rough and tumble play, Canby would go on a little run of it’s own, keeping the game close for the next 5 minutes. With under 9 minutes to play, MCC had a 17-14 lead. The Rebels defense got stingy and at the 7:20 mark, MCC would find themselves up 10, 24-14 before Canby would knock down 2 free throws.

With 6 minutes left, the Rebels extended their lead to 12 at 28-16 with a nice look from beyond the arc. They did not connect and would go a bit cold from the field, turning the ball over multiple times in a row and letting the Lancers get back into the game. The Rebels finished the first half with 13 turnovers. But they had the lead at 36-30.

This game had a lot of life left in it going into the second half. Canby kicked off the scoring with a 3 to start the half. That was followed by a contested, rushed shot by the Rebels. MCC got the stop on defense and Aidan Dierks attacked the basket. The ball just rolled off the rim, but a hustling Bryce Hoekman would tip the ball back in for the first points of the half for the Rebels.

The defense would step up and earn another stop as the Rebels went on a 4-0 run to go up 7, answering the Lancer three with a plus one. Both teams got stops on the next possessions and then an odd offensive rebound would be given up by the Rebels on the Lancer next possession.

Three Rebels watched the ball drop to the floor in-between them, thinking that their teammate was going to grab it. Instead Canby did, luckily it didn’t end up in points for the Lancers. But it kind of kick started some poor possessions for the Rebels. The next two would see MCC turn the ball over and Canby hit a three, cutting into the lead. 41-36. The Rebels offense stayed cold, Part of this stretch was Canby’s pressure. There are going to be streaks during games against the Lancers where the physicality and speed will make you play a little faster than you want. Weathering those storms with solid fundamentals is what is needed.

Carter Lewis gave the Rebels that fundamental play. Lewis stepped in to help defend from the backside, ripped the ball away from the Lancer attacker and went coast to coast for a big lay-up. This was followed by a Rebel stop and a crazy And-1 by Aidan Dierks. It’s hard to describe but as Dierks went to the rim from the left wing, the perfect combination of luck and skill sent the basketball above the backboard, whistle blew, the ball bounced a couple times off the rim and dropped as Dierks was able to watch from the floor. Now the Rebels are up 8 with 10 minutes remaining. MCC would get a stop and have a chance to extend the lead to double digits.

MCC did not convert, but did earn another stop of defense as a three-point shot was contested and blocked by Carter Lewis. Canby would finally find a bucket at the 8-minute mark, which would be answered by Hudson Schryvers from 17 feet.

Canby caught the Rebels in a miscommunication on defense and drained one of their 10 three point makes. This would be answered by a Ross Engelkes 3. Canby would answer back with another 3 and then the pressure was turned up to another level by the Lancer defense.

With under 6 minutes to go Canby went on a big run, fueled by quick shots by the Rebels, DEEP threes by the Lancers, and a bunch of physical play. Next thing you know, with 3 minutes to go, the game was tied at 55. Then with 2:45 left, MCC was down 2, 57-55 before Bryce Hoekman connected on a turnaround jumper off the glass with the foul. Hoekman missed the free throw and the game would stay tied.

MCC turned the Lancers over and had a 2 on 1 fast break and couldn’t convert, but did draw the foul. Gavin Gillette stepped to the line, but didn’t convert.

Ross Engelkes tightened up the man to man defense in the full court and drew a moving screen foul, which led to a Carter Lewis post entry pass to Bryce Hoekman for two points and the lead. 59-57 with 1:38 to go. Canby would call a timeout.

Out of the timeout, the Rebels forced a deep three and gathered in the rebound. MCC would miss on their opportunity to score and in transition for the Lancers, Hoekman came up with a big block. He would keep the ball in play and gather the board. On the next possession, Canby switched to a zone. The Rebels answered with a skip pass from the left wing to the right, Carter Lewis flashed into the middle of the zone and received a quick pass from Gavin Gillette. Lewis would elevate and drain the 8 foot shot to put the Rebels up four with 20 seconds remaining.

MCC forced Canby to use 17 seconds on their next possession, but they got loose for a wide open three and drained it. The Rebels had a chance to extend their lead, but again the free throws wouldn’t drop. With 1.1 seconds left, Carter Lewis would miss the front end of the one and one, but a battle for the rebound went out of bounds off of Canby.

MCC inbounded the ball to Ross Engelkes and ran the last second out to earn a hard fought non-conference, section win, 61-60.

Leading Scorers: Bryce Hoekman 24, Aidan Dierks and Gavin Gillette with 9, Carter Lewis, 8, Ross Engelkes 7.

Leading Rebounds: Bryce Hoekman 10, Gavin Gillette 8, Ross Engelkes 8, Carter Lewis 7.

Leading Steals: Gavin Gillette 3.

Leading Assists: Aidan Dierks 9 ,Gavin Gillette 3.