MCC and HBC have had tight, contested ball games already this season at all three levels, Saturday night would prove to be the same as both teams looked to end the week with a win.
The C-squad would get off to a bit of a slow start, as both teams were playing pretty even basketball. As MCC would go into halftime down 20-19. Dylan Kluis and Hudson Schryvers led the Rebels with 5 points each in the first half, each hitting a three-point shot.
The second half would see MCC desperately trying to take a lead, as HBC had an answer for everything the Rebels threw at them, that is until about the last 15 seconds. With the Rebels down three, Gavin Gillette found himself open in the left corner behind the three-point line and in stunning fashion, he drilled it. This was the shot of energy the Rebels were looking for and it would give MCC hope as it put the game into OT. In the OT periods, yes, it went into double OT, MCC would get to the foul line over and over again, more importantly they made their foul shots over and over again. Gillette and Dawson Schreier each went 1-2, Dylan Kluis went 2-2 and added a bucket in the OT periods, and Hudson Schryvers would go 4-4.
A fantastic ball game by both teams, but the Rebels were able to pull out the thrilling win, 37-33.
The B-team was in a battle as well that would go right down to the wire, but this game didn’t start all that close. The Rebels were able to get off to a solid first half, playing through sophomore post Bryce Hoekman and sophomore guards Ross Engelkes and Ben Ahlers. Hoekman had 8 first half markers, while Engelkes had 6 and Ahlers 5. This would get the Rebels into halftime with a 23-13 lead. Solid defense led and a balanced attack on offense gave the Rebels a cushion and they would need it.
The second half would see HBC turn the Rebels over on numerous occasions and hot shooting would get them back in the game. The two teams almost exactly switched the amount of points scored from the first half to the second. HBC would match MCC’s first half 23 with their own second half 23, but the difference was that MCC would score 15 second half points, compared the Patriots 13, pulling out another thrilling game, with the 38-36 victory.
The varsity game was no different than the C and B games. It was exciting, competitive, and everything in-between. In one of the more unique games played in a long time, both teams would see themselves shoot a pile of free throws and get into a pile of foul trouble. A hard fought game to the end by both squads.
The first half would start a little sluggish for the Rebels on offense. Almost too patient as they would do a lot of spectating on the floor, watching the ball as it was dribbled and missing cutters to the basket or rolls to the basket when they presented themselves. The rhythm or flow to the offense was thrown out of sync and it took a half to figure it out.
MCC’s defense would jump back and forth between press, zone, and man would at times kept HBC on their toes. Star guard Cole Baker would lead the charge for the Patriots, scoring a first half 13 points, as the rest of the HBC team would contribute with 12 points.
With four MCC players in foul trouble in the first half, as the main ball handlers, Christian Tentinger, Aidan Dierks, and Tanner Graphenteen each had two, and Chant Mitchell also had two fouls it makes sense of why the flow was a little off. Connor Degreef and Bryce Hoekman would fill in nicely to keep the Rebels in the game with solid minutes in the first half, doing a bunch of the little things needed to keep things close. Nate Kleven would solidify the offense in the first half as well, leading the Rebels with 6 points.
Even though things got tough for MCC in the first half, the effort was still there and everyone made the most of their minutes in that regard. Down only 4, 25-21 going into halftime this ball game was far from over.
The second half with look entirely different on the offensive end for the Rebels. Defensively it looked similar to the first half, Cole Baker kept scoring and the rest of the Patriots chipped in with 13 points. Baker had 19 second half points, but the difference was when he scored them.
Foul trouble followed the Rebels throughout the entire game as Tanner Graphenteen, Aidan Dierks, Nate Kleven, Chant Mitchell, Ross Englekes, and Christian Tentinger would all finish the game with 4 fouls. But none of them would foul out which played a big part in the end. Another key to this game were reserve players Bryce Hoekman in the first half, Connor Degreef and Aidan Dierks in both halves, and Ross Englekes in the second half. The group scored 17 points off the bench, 11 in the second half. Connor Degreef would bring instant offense as he drilled a three and knocked down both of his free throw attempts. The timing of his three was huge as it gave the entire gym a big boost of energy. Englekes would play a bit of a different role as he took on the assignment to tire Cole Baker down. He accomplished that and then some.
Ross would play 10 minutes of straight denial defense on the guard, as the game grew closer to its conclusion Baker’s jumpers started falling well short of their mark. Englekes would also step up to the free throw line in a close game and would show ice in his veins, knocking down 5-6 second half free throws.
With the reserve Rebels stepping up, the starters joined the party as well, Tanner Graphenteen would score 6, Christian Tentinger would have a big second half and score 14, Nate Kleven stayed steady and delivered big bucket after big bucket in the post and scored 9, and Chant Mitchell who may be the unsung hero of the game scored 3 points in the half, 7 in the game, but contributed with 7 assists and 8 rebounds on top of it. Playing an instrumental role in helping the Rebels find their flow on the offensive end in the second half.
With Mitchell’s passing and the teams contributions from 1-8, the Rebels scored 43 second half points and pulled away late for the 64-57 victory. A hard fought game by both teams, the Rebels depth proved to be a big difference in the stretch as multiple players stepped up and played their roles at a high level in the second half.
The Rebels improve to 9-8 on the season as HBC falls to 6-8. MCC stays at 9th in the section and 5th in the sub-section just behind 10-6 WWG.
Scoring: Christian Tentinger 16, Nate Kleven 15, Tanner Graphenteen 9, Chant Mitchell 7, Aidan Dierks 6, Connor Degreef and Ross Englekes 5 each, and Bryce Hoekman 1. Rebound Leaders: Nate Kleven 11, Chant Mitchell 8, Christian Tentinger 7, Bryce Hoekman 3. Steals Leaders: Abe Paulzine 3, Tanner Graphenteen and Aidan Dierks 2 each. Assists Leaders: Chant Mitchell 7.
