By Joel Herrig
Murray County News Sports
The MCC Rebels continued their marathon week on Thursday night when they played host to the Canby Lancers. The Rebels were playing their third game in four days but at least this game was at home. The Rebels lost their first two games of the week on the road. Now they were playing another good team in Canby. The Lancers and the Rebels had opposite records coming into the game. MCC was 4-7 while the Lancers were 7-4. This game would be a great bounce back effort for the Rebels who dominated the glass and out shot the Lancers.
The Rebels knew if they wanted to win this game they needed to slow down Canby’s top two scorers. Sawyer Hansen and Adam Durfee far and away lead the Lancers in scoring and when they struggle so does the entire team. In the first half both Durfee and Hansen had their moments. Durfee scored inside and outside hitting a three pointer, on a drive into the lane, and made three free throws. Hansen connected on three three point shots. They combined for 17 of the teams 26 points.
Overall the Rebels did an effective job at limiting the duo’s open shots. The two biggest stories of the first half revolved around the Rebels foul trouble with each post player picking up two fouls each before the clock hit nine minutes. With the foul trouble the Rebels had to go to a small lineup which was perfect for Cole Bassett. The Rebel senior took the game over. Bassett scored 18 first half points including three three pointers, he had two assists, and on the defensive end he grabbed 10 rebounds and had two steals. Bassett was the only player in double figures in the first half. The Rebels built a 35 to 26 lead at halftime.
The Rebels defense would get even better in the second half. The Rebels forced Canby into 11 turnovers and Canby shot just 37 percent from the field. MCC allowed the Durfee Hansen combo to score just seven points in the second half, well below the 17 from the first.
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