REBELS END SEASON WITH LOSS IN SEMI-FINALS

The #5 seeded MCC Rebels took on the #1 seeded HBC Patriots Thursday night for a right at the Sub-Section 3A South Championship. A gritty defensive battle would ensue, with both teams shooting low percentages from the field, MCC 27% and HBC 26%. Free throws and offensive rebounds were key differences in the outcome.

HBC was able to get off to a strong start as the Rebels missed their mark on a couple of shots, had some basketballs bounce right off their hands that could have been steals and had some early turnovers. Down 6-0, Ross Engelkes attacked the basket hard, the shot wouldn’t fall, but Bryce Hoekman cleaned the glass and scored the putback. 6-2 at the 15:39 mark.

Both teams did a nice job of making the other use the shot clock. The lanes were tough to penetrate and once you got in there, brace yourself. It was physical. Neither team scored again until just under the 14 minute mark, when Carter Lewis gathered in an offensive rebound, and powered up for two points. 6-4 with 13:56 to play.

Forty seconds later, Hudson Schyrvers earned a trip to the foul line, as he attacked the paint and got mugged on the way. He connected on 1-2. The Rebels answered back with a 5-0 of their own.

Both teams’ big men scored on the next baskets as HBC’s Jamin Metzger and Bryce Hoekman each made tough contested shots. HBC answered back with an old fashioned 3 point play to take a 4 point lead.

At the 10:32 mark, Carter Lewis earned a trip to the foul line after attacking the paint. He connected on 1-2, cutting the lead back to 3.

Shortly after, a tough break for the Rebels, as Hoekman picked up two tough fouls, sending him to the bench. Aidan Swenson would step into the game and gave the Rebels valuable minutes, playing tough, physical post defense and making it tough to score in the paint.

Hudson Schyrvers earned a trip to the foul line on the Rebels next possession and connected on both. HBC knocked down their only three of the game on their next possession. This was followed by a Carter Lewis shot fake and score from the left block.

Back and forth we went, mostly with defensive stops before Ross Engelkes hit one of the two threes made by the Rebels on the night. When the dust settled in the first half, the score was HBC 24 and MCC 20. The main difference was the free throws made vs the free throws missed by each team, HBC was in the advantage.

The second half started with the Rebels on offense, but unfortunately, instead of ending the possession with a shot, it ended with a quick turnover. A low arc pass was tipped by the on ball defender and easily stolen by the post defender. Not the start we were looking for. The Patriots took advantage as an offensive rebound led to a 10 foot jump shot to take the 26-20 lead.

The offense answered back as Hoekman scored a tough two from the block. HBC answered back with a trip to the foul line on their next possession, connecting on 1 of 2. 2722 with 16:30 to play.

The Rebels offense were challenged by the tough HBC defense all half. Possessions were at a premium for both teams. The Rebels would string together multiple stops in a row, but couldn’t find the same consistency on offense to make the stops count.

HBC grew its lead to as many as 11, but the Rebels did not give up. Hudson Schryvers hit a big three and Gavin Gillette answered with a tough drive and finish for the 5-0 run for MCC. A tough shooting foul on Carter Lewis broke the run up as the Patriots went 1-2 from the line. The ball movement seemed to pick up for the Rebels offense as they were able to see a couple shots drop, always an energizing factor in close games, when the ball doesn’t seem to want to fall through the bucket. MCC earned another stop on their next possession, or so they thought, as a battle for a rebound bounced up in the air and dropped in for two Patriot points. Tough break for MCC.

Neither team scored for the next couple minutes. The game was just begging for a team to take control, but the defenses were just tough. Aidan Dierks dropped a 15 foot jump shot at the 5:30 mark to keep the game at a six point difference.

Nearing crunch time, the Rebels went on another empty possession streak. Good looks would rattle in and out on multiple possessions and it was tough to find a rhythm. It seemed like it was a great look or a turnover for the Rebels. In the meantime, the Patriots found themselves on the foul line often in the final 5 minutes. Their starting backcourt went on a combined 13-13 from the foul line to finish the game. Slowly but surely stretching the lead. A valiant effort by MCC, but their season ended with a 50-39 defeat in the Sub-Section 3A semifinals.

MCC finished the season with a 15-13 record, going 11-7 in the conference, good enough for 5th place. A big thank you to everyone that makes playing basketball possible. There is something happening every single day over the winter season to give the guys an opportunity to compete. Thank you to the basketball managers, Ava Johnson, Theran Mannon, Michael Risacher, and Thomas Huso and the six senior players, Ben Ahlers, Owen Gillette, Aidan Dierks, Ross Engelkes, Carter Lewis, and Bryce Hoekman. What a great group of young men, that set a positive example for so many at our school and community.

Leading Scorers: Bryce Hoekman with 14 Leading Rebounders: Bryce Hoekman with 9 and Carter Lewis with 9, Ross Engelkes with 6 Leading Assists: Bryce Hoekman and Aidan Dierks with 2 Leading Steals: Hudson Schryvers with 3