PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL: Rebels hold off Knights in second half, 49-43
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MARSHALL - The last time the Murray County Central and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton faced each other in girls basketball, the Rebels won a nailbiter, 73-72. Thursday morning's matchup was a more low-scoring affair, but a similar result, with MCC holding on against the Knights 49-43 in the Borch's Holiday Classic at Southwest Minnesota State University.
The Knights jumped out to a fast start in the beginning stages, going up 4-0. The Rebels responded, though, getting steals on the defensive end which led to baskets on the other side, as MCC used a 7-1 run to take a 7-5 lead.
RTR continued to slowly chip away at its deficit, and cut MCC's lead to three at 14-11 at one point. Both teams would then turn the ball over throughout the next few minutes, which kept the score close. The Rebels were able to break out of the turnover funk down the stretch of the first half, as they closed the frame with a 7-3 run to take a 21-14 lead heading into halftime.
That run continued for MCC to start the second half, as the Rebels used a pair of 3-pointers to give themselves their first double-digit lead of the game at 27-16 with 15:08 left. A 3-pointer by RTR's Mya Christensen cut the deficit to 31-19, but MCC's Amanda Mueke answered with shot from beyond the arc of her own to push the Rebels advantage to 39-23 with 11 minutes to go.
MCC would build its lead to as many as 16 in the second half, including a 45-29 mark with 6:30 left. The Knights wouldn't go away, however, as they went on a small run to cut it to 47-35 with 3:13 left before a 3-pointer by Christensen cut it to single digits at 49-40 with 43.2 seconds remaining.
Using their second-half press, the Knights got a steal from Jonni Biren, who then drove down the lane and got fouled in transition. She would make 1 of 2 from the free-throw line before RTR got yet another steal in the Rebels backcourt, which led to a Brooke Thomsen layup. Thomsen's layup cut RTR's deficit to six, but the Knights had run out of time and MCC held on for the victory.
MCC coach Patrick Freeman said he liked his team's effort right from the start in the second half, and felt they were able to get enough done on both ends to hang on for the win.
"I thought our second-half effort was really good from the start; I thought we were able to get on a run offensively, attacking the basket and getting easy opportunities," Freeman said. "I thought our pressure bothered them and I think that second half effort gave us enough lead to finish the game."
Riley Schmitz led the way for the Rebels with 18 points while Rachel Van Iperen added 12 and Alyssa Groves had six. Van Iperen led in rebounds with 11 while Brianna Schmitz and Mueke led in assists with two each.
Freeman said their key on offense was their ability to go to their post players in Van Iperen and Groves as well as using the defensive pressure from Riley Schmitz to get out in transition.
"I thought offensively we were able to get the ball inside to Rachel Van Iperen and Alyssa pretty well and got the high-low looks we were going for," Freeman said. "And then obviously Riley Schmitz does a lot of things defensively that allows us to get some fastbreak opportunities."
Christensen led the way for the Knights with 11 points while Biren had 10 and Thomsen had nine. Christensen also led in rebounds with eight while Biren chipped in five steals.
RTR coach Steve Krause said defensively, they were able to put their five quickest players on the floor in the second half which helped them cause problems for MCC down the stretch.
"Some of those, they weren't aggressive to the basket, and we also put the five quickest kids on the floor, which helps make the press more effective," Krause said. "As long as they aren't attacking the basket, we can get away with a little less size on the floor."
MCC (5-5) will face Westbrook-Walnut Grove on Jan. 4 while RTR (4-7) will face Renville County West on Tuesday.
Freeman said their biggest takeaway will be working on their rebounding and limiting turnovers and that they are at a point of the season where they can make a big run.
"We need to make sure we're working on rebounding; I thought RTR controlled it at times, and then offensively we need to limit the turnovers," Freeman said. "Overall, I'm happy with the progression, and we're at an opportunity to make a conference push and that's our goal."
MCC 21 28-49
RTR 14 29-43
SCORING: MCC 19-39, 48.7 percent (R. Schmitz 8-13, 1-2 18; Van Iperen 5-11, 2-4 12; Groves 2-4, 2-4 6; B. Schmitz 1-2, 3-4 5; Mueke 2-5, 0-0 5; Christensen 1-3, 0-0 3); RTR 15-57, 26.3 percent (Christensen 2-6, 5-8 11; Biren 3-13, 4-6 10; B. Thomsen 4-14, 1-3 9; Dressen 4-11, 0-4 8; S. Thomsen 1-5, 0-0 2; Hess 1-3, 0-0 2; Muenchow 0-3, 1-2 1).
3-POINT FGS: MCC 3-5, 60 percent (R. Schmitz, Mueke, Christensen 1); RTR 2-8, 25 percent (Christensen).
REBOUNDS: MCC 34 (Van Iperen 11; Groves 9; Mueke 4; B. Schmitz, Christensen 3; R. Schmitz, Wieneke 2); RTR 30 (Christensen 8; Dressen 6; B. Thomsen 5; S. Thomsen, Biren 4; Muenchow 2; Hess 1).
ASSISTS: MCC 6 (B. Schmitz, Mueke 2; R. Schmitz 1); RTR 6 (Dressen 2; B. Thomsen, Hess, S. Thomsen, Christensen 1).
STEALS: MCC 10 (R. Schmitz 5; Mueke, B. Schmitz, Christensen, Van Iperen, Groves 1); RTR 14 (Biren 5; B. Thomsen 3; S. Thomsen, Christensen 2; Muenchow, Dressen 1).
BLOCKS: MCC 7 (Groves 6; R. Schmitz 1); RTR 2 (S. Thomsen, Dressen 1).
FOULS: MCC 21; RTR 16.
TURNOVERS: MCC 33; RTR 21.