Photo by Jake McNeill: Murray County Central guard Gavin Gillette (1) shoots a midrange jumper over a Lac qui Parle Valley defender during a prep boys basketball game in the Holiday Classic at Southwest Minnesota State University’s R/A Facility on Monday afternoon.

This story will be updated with stats, quotes and photos

MARSHALL — Despite a late run from Lac qui Parle Valley, the Murray County Central boys basketball team held on for a win on the first day of the boys Holiday CLassic at Southwest Minnesota State University on Monday afternoon. The Rebels fell behind in the final minute but Aidan Swenson came up with a late go-ahead shot to give MCC a 63-60 win.

The Rebels’ selflessness and ball movement was key to their ability to jump out to an early lead. Max Miller led the team with 9 first-half points while Gavin Gillette, Hudson Schryvers and Aidan Swenson each scored another 8.

All of Miller’s first-half points came in the first 9 minutes, building an early 21-12 lead for the Rebels when LQPV called the game’s first timeout. MCC continued to surge with Gillette, Swenson and Cayden Veldhuisen each knocking down a shot to give the Rebels a 28-12 lead, their largest of the half.

MCC continued to move the ball effectivelyl but its perimeter shooting went cold late in the first half. A 3-pointer from Matthew Arndt and a steal and transition layup from Carson Besonen brought the Eagles within a point of the Rebels, but a 3-pointer at the buzzer from Schryvers sent MCC into the locker room with a 39-35 advantage.

Coming out of the locker room, the Rebels once again found their rhythm. It took six minutes after the break for MCC to bring its lead back up to double digits, with a layup from Gillette making the score 50-40.

From there, the Rebels increased their lead to as many as 14 points, going up 55-41 with 10 minutes to play. Yet, the Rebels offense went cold again and LQPV rattled off a 9-0 run to get back within two possessions.

It took nearly six minutes for Gillette to end the drought with a layup, but Tygan Allpress responded with a layup through contact to trim MCC’s lead back to 5 points. Arndt then knocked down another 3-pointer to make it a one-possession game, 57-55 in favor of the Rebels, with 2:37 to play.

Davis Patzer tied the game up with a jumper with under two minutes to play, but Gillette went to the free-throw line on the opposite end and made both ends of the 1-and-1 to keep the Rebels on top.

Patzer went to the line with the opportunity to tie it back up for the Eagles, but made just the front end of the 1-and-1. A clutch block from Baxter Kallhoff set up Besonen’s go-ahead basket with 54.4 seconds left, giving the Eagles their first lead of the game.

Yet, the lead was short-lived. Schryvers found Swenson on the block with a pass from the top of the key, and Swenson converted the go-ahead shot in the final 40 seconds. The Rebels got a defensive stop and LQPV was forced to intentionally foul to stay in the game. Gillette, with ice in his veins, stepped up to the line and hit both free throws to make the score 63-60, and LQPV’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer fell no good.

Murray County Central improves to 5-2 with the win and has now won four of its last five games. The Rebels will look to keep the hot streak going when they take on Minneota (3-3) tonight as part of the second day of the Holiday Classic. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. at SMSU’s R/A Facility.