The MCC Rebels opened the week at home against the Westbrook Walnut Grove Chargers. The Chargers entered the game with a six and nine record and have had to deal with a key injury to their roster. The Chargers are also one of the smallest and youngest teams in the Red Rock Conference. The combination gave the Rebels some hope to pull off an upset especially at home. The Rebels would have some moments on Tuesday night but they didn’t have the consistency to get the win.
The Rebels have struggled to start games well in their last four games and the poor start was in play again on Tuesday. The Rebels would score just 12 first-half points against the Chargers while turning the ball over 20 times in the first half. Emily Rohrer and Mary Lou McNab scored 5 and 4 points respectively in the first half to lead MCC but it was the Chargers who were in control. With WWG having no one in the lineup over 5’9” they pressured the Rebels and forced them into turnovers plus they held their own on the glass against the bigger Rebels. The Chargers took advantage of an aggressive Rebels defense by attacking them off the dribble for some easy looks in the lane. Isabel Klumper started fast scoring eight first-half points and then Ameilia Sikel scored nine points including the only made three of the first half. The Chargers led 27-12 at the half.
The Rebels would come out strong in the second half. The Rebels would score 8 of the first 10 points of the half. Rohrer and Zoey Iverson scored 4 points each. The Rebels would keep putting the pressure on the Chargers as WWG couldn’t find room in the paint as the Rebels closed out on shooters more carefully in the second half. The Rebels were able to chip away and when Mary Lou McNab hit a three-point shot which got the Rebels within 3 points with about seven min utes to play the Rebels felt they had a shot to win. The Chargers then stepped up. At this point in the game, WWG had made just one three-point shot but that soon changed. In the next two minutes, the Chargers would make four three-point shots to extend the lead from 3 to 15. The Chargers would then make enough free throws to keep the Rebels at bay converting on 10 freebies the rest of the game. The Rebels would fall 53 to 37.
Emily Rohrer had a solid game for the Rebels with 13 points while also playing good defense down low and rebounding. Mary Lou McNab would foul out with 9 points and Seanna Swenson added 8. The Rebels finished with 28 turnovers while forcing 13. Isabel Klumper was terrific in the second half especially at the free-throw line scoring a gamehigh 24 points but 16 came in the second half. Ameilia Sikel finished with 14 points as only 4 total Chargers found the scoring column.
