For The Tribune
Keegan Rebber, of Trinity Lutheran High School, is a team player when it comes to the game of basketball.
“I just like the game,” Rebber said. “I like the scoring and just helping my teammates as much as I can and just win.”
Seniors Daniel Horton, Jack Harwager, Luke Onken and Rebber played together at Immanuel Lutheran School before coming to Trinity.
“I think our teamwork is getting better,” Rebber said. “Later on in the season I think we’ll be where we need to be.”
Rebber, a two-year varsity starter, said he enjoys playing in the backcourt, and he would rather face a man-to-man defense.
“It’s easier to get open,” Rebber said. “It doesn’t matter which side I’m on, but I tend to go to the right side more often. I like driving more, but I’ll shoot a 3-pointer if I’m open.”
Rebber broke the school’s single-game scoring record earlier this season with a 30-point performance against Austin.
He scored 26 at Scottsburg earlier this month and had an 18-points game against Hauser his junior year.
Rebber said he enjoys pressing full-court, and playing half-court man-to-man.
“We’ll zone press until it stops working and then we’ll back off,” Rebber said. “I like man-to-man in the half-court.”
He said the Cougars need to get tougher on defense and reduce their turnovers.
“We definitely need to improve our defense,” Rebber said. “We’ve been allowing too many points this year so we need to work on that in practice. Teams have been beating us back and getting easy points.
“I think we’ve done all right, but I think we could do better.”
Rebber has high expectations for the rest of the season.
“In basketball we’re looking to win sectionals right now and hopefully make it further than that. Our goal at the beginning of the season was to win sectional, but we’ve just got to focus on the sectional.”
The senior also is looking forward to track and field season, where his goal is to break the school record in the high jump.
“I got 5-foot-8 last year and the school record is 5-9,” Rebber said. “You have to have good timing to know when to jump so you don’t hit the bar, and you have to have to have pretty good jumping ability, too.”
He also runs the 100-meter dash and in the 400 and 1,600 relays.
“I like the relays better,” Rebber said. “I feel like if you’re with teammates and they’re counting on you it pushes you harder and makes you want to do better.”
Rebber said he enjoys running leadoff in the 400 relay.
“I’m going to have to work a lot harder this year in track,” he said. “My goal is to get to regional in the high jump and hopefully the relay because we’ll have a real good relay team this year.”
Whether he’s on the hardwood or on the track, Rebber said he thinks that having a strong work ethic is important.
“You have to have a lot of focus and a lot of intensity, and you’ve got to want it. You can’t just go out there and think you’re going to get it. You have to know you’re going to win.
“Practice is very important. You’ve got to practice to get better.”
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Parents: Gregg Rebber, Melanie Sutton
Siblings: Gabby, Faith
Sports: Basketball, four years; track and field, four years
Athletisc highlights: Set school scoring record with 30 points against Austin
Organizations: Choir, student ambassadors
Plans after high school: Attend college and play basketball
Favorite food: Ham
Favorite TV show: “The Walking Dead”
Favorite movie: Jason Derulo
Favorite movie: “The Other Guys”
Favorite athlete: Kobe Bryant
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Q: Have you enjoyed your time at Trinity Lutheran?
A: “I love Trinity. First of all because they teach you about Christ and God, and because most of my friends came here and I didn’t want to leave them. I’ve just enjoyed being with my friends and making memories out here and having fun.”
Q: Do you have any moments that stick out over your career?
A: “It would be my school-record game, or my freshman year at Hanover Camp. I don’t know how many points I had but I just couldn’t miss. That was a lot of fun for me.””
Q: Do you have a favorite away track?
A: “Christian Academy has a nice track, and Bedford where the sectional is held. That’s probably the best one.”
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