REBELS WIN AT HOME OVER HBC

The MCC Rebel Boys Basketball team got back to what could be called a nearly normal schedule last week. The Rebels played Monday against Pipestone before snow canceled a couple of days of school and eliminated two days of practice. The Rebels would get to practice on Thursday before playing host to the Hills Beaver Creek Patriots on Friday. The Patriots had played three total games on the season heading into their game against MCC but the young Patriots had struggled losing their first 3 games. The Rebels turned on the offense for the first time in over two weeks for the win.

The Rebels had struggled in each of their last three games on offense. MCC failed to score 20 points in the first half of each of their games against Renville County West, Minneota, and Pipestone. That would not be an issue on Friday. The Rebels started slowly taking a small lead over the first couple of minutes. Bryce Hoekman scored a basket early and the Rebels got to the free-throw line four times in the first few minutes but MCC wouldn’t really start scoring until Aiden Dierks checked into the game. Dierks came in firing and he wasn’t going to miss. Dierks would pour in 15 points in the first half hitting from inside and out and on the fast break. As Dierks got, hot the rest of the Rebels would find openings to score. Christian Tentinger scored 8 points in the first half and Derek Kluis added 7. The Rebels would lead at the half 42 to 29.

It was a great first half for the Rebels and it would continue in the second half. Often times a team will have a big first half and then struggle in the second but on Friday the Rebels only got better. The Rebels were shooting well as a team. It wasn’t just one player, it was all of the players. Tanner Graphenteen would put together a ten-point second half and Christian Tentinger would continue his solid play scoring 9. Jaden Deacon would score 7 points in the second half as the Rebels’ lead continued to grow. The Patriots are a young team and like many young teams, one or two good possessions would be followed by four or five bad ones. Beau Bakken would lead the Patriots in the second half as he scored 8 points but it wasn’t nearly enough. Conner Degreef hit a pair of secondhalf three-point shots for the Rebels and Michael Risacher would add the cherry on top with a three to cap the night off for the Rebels’ 91 to 63 win.

The Rebels forced 24 turnovers while giving up the ball 18 times. MCC shot it well, making 10 three-point shots compared to the Patriots’ 3. MCC was led by Aiden Dierks with a seasonhigh 21 points and he led the team with 4 assists. Christian Tentinger scored 17 points, had 7 steals, and 5 rebounds in a great all-around effort. Tanner Graphenteen added 14 bouncing back from three tough games in a row. Bakken finished with 14 points for HBC and Riley Tatge added 13. The Rebels have two tough conference games coming up at Mountain Lake Area Comfrey and at home against Red Rock Central.

Christian Tentinger

Michael Risacher

Gavin Gillette