Nick Bushlack gets open in the lane for two points in a game played earlier this season. The Rebels won all three of their games last week.

USC 78, T/ML/GHEC 30

For the second game in a row, and for the fourth time in five games, the United South Central Rebels’ boys basketball team came out of the locker room fast to jump all over their opponents early.

The Rebels took a 47-16 halftime lead and ended up downing the Truman/Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain Jaguars 78-30 on Monday, Jan. 16.

“We started the game on a 13-0 run, then took a 28-4 lead with just about five minutes to play in the half,” coach Adam Walker said. “Our defense was once again tremendous and we were on fire in the first half – we connected on five first half 3-pointers.”

Zale Bushlack finished the first half with 15 points on his way to 24 for the game to lead the Rebels’ attack. He had a double-double with grabbing 11 rebounds in the game. Johnny Martinez had 17 points, with 13 of them in the first half.

The Rebels again had four players in double figures for scoring, as Nick Bushlack had 14 points in the game and Taybor Conley also made double figures with 11.

The Rebels built up a lead of 40 points with 10 minutes left in the game, and running time began at the nine minute mark.

As a team USC was 23 of 41 for 2-pointers (56 percent), 7 of 14 for 3-pointers (50 percent) and 11 of 17 for free-throws (65 percent).

The Rebels grabbed 37 rebounds to the Jaguars’ 20, had 23 assists to their eight,19 steals to their 11 and 15 turnovers to their 26.

“This was a big section win against a team that has competed in most of their games,” coach Walker said.

USC 82, NRHEG 63

Although they got off to a slower start than usual, the United South Central Rebels still got some hot shooting later in the game and defeated the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Panthers by nearly 20 points.

The final was 82-63 in the game that was played on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

“We weren’t able to jump out to that comfortable lead we had in the previous two games, but we still managed to take a 12 point lead into halftime against a very stingy and physical Panther team,” coach Adam Walker said.

NRHEG actually led 29-28 with about six minutes left in the half before Johnny Martinez started to take over, coach Walker said.

“Johnny knocked down a 3-pointer to put us up by two, then followed that with a steal under the hoop and a layup,” the Rebels mentor said. “Zale (Bushlack) had 10 points in the first half and Johnny knocked down three 3-pointers to go along with his 15 first half points. Nick (Bushlack) made 6 of 7 free throws for 12 first half points and led us in transition on two separate occasions to get buckets.”

The Rebels led 42-30 at the half after going on a 13-2 run to end the last three minutes.

“Zale was unbelievable in the second half,” the coach continued. “He scored 22 of his game and career high 32 points and was virtually unstoppable.”

Johnny Martinez scored 23 points for the Rebels, and Nick Bushlack continued his superb free-shooting in the second half and ended up 10 of 11 from the charity stripe and a total of 20 points in the game.

The Rebels were 33 of 54 shooting from the floor (61 percent) which included going 30 of 46 for 2-pointers (65 percent) and 3 of 8 for 3-pointers (38 percent). They were 76 percent from the free-throw line, hitting 13 of 17 tries.

The Panthers were 25 of 56 from the floor (45 percent) and 4 of 8 from the free-throw line (50 percent).

USC had 23 rebounds to 26 for NRHEG, 21 assists to their 13, had 12 steals to their eight and 16 turnovers to their 24.

“These guys are playing so hard and so well,” coach Walker said. “They understand what it takes to work hard on both ends of the floor. Zale and Nick have become great leaders and everyone seems to be fitting into their roles.”

Walker added that the Rebel team is becoming more and more confident.

“We know our identity as playing sound defense and playing team offense,” he explained. “They are feeding off of each other and the vibe is tremendous right now.”

The Rebels next game was set for Friday, Jan. 20, at Triton. Details on that game will be in the next week’s issue of the Faribault County Register.

This week they are scheduled to host Hayfield on Monday, Jan. 23, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown on Tuesday, Jan. 24 and Blooming Prairie on Friday, Jan. 27.

USC 71, Medford 47

The United South Central Rebels boys basketball team used a monster first half to go on to a big win over the Medford Tigers on Friday, Jan. 13.

The Rebels outscored the Tigers 41-16 in the first half, then went on to win 71-47, with USC scoring 30 in the second half and Medford 31.

The Rebels took control early on with a 24-4 lead thanks to great defense and solid shooting in the first half.

“We came out a little sluggish to start the second half, but built our lead to as much as 36 with 11 minutes to play,” says coach Adam Walker. “Players really stepped up and knocked down shots early to build our lead. We defended very well once again and that is becoming our identity as we prepare for a grueling last couple months.”

The Rebels were led by Zale Bushlack with 22 points and Johnny Martinez with 20. The two also led the team in rebounds with Bushlack grabbing 10 and Martinez eight.

Nick Bushlack added nine points for the Rebels and Jorge Martinez six. In all, 10 USC players hit the scoring column.

As a team the Rebels made 27 of 62 shots from the floor (44 percent), with 20 of 44 of those as 2-pointers ((45 percent) and 7 of 18 for 3-pointers (39 percent). They were 10 of 17 from the free-throw line (59 percent).

The Tigers were 15 of 47 from the floor and 14 of 21 from the charity stripe. They were just 3 of 23 for 3-point attempts.

USC outrebounded their opponents 36-28, had 21 assists to their six, 11 steals to their nine, six blocks to their one and just 14 turnovers to their 23.