Nick Bushlack, above, has scored in double figures in USC’s first two games. He led the Rebels with 13 points against Madelia and also had 13 versus JWP.

It was a tale of two halves when the United South Central boys basketball team hosted Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton last Tuesday night, Dec. 7.

The Rebels had a 10 point lead over the Bulldogs at the end of the first half, 33-23, but then JWP scored 37 in the second half and USC scored 23, making the final 60-56 in favor of the visitors.

“We jumped out to a 10-point lead early, and led by as much as 13 in the second half,” head coach Adam Walker said. “We really tightened up offensively late in the second half and started making some unforced errors with the basketball, and JWP made some big shots late in the game as well.”

Zale Bushlack and Taybor Conley led the Rebels in scoring with 17 points each. They also led in rebounding with 13 for Bushlack and 12 for Conley.

Nick Bushlack scored 13 points, Colten Quade had five points and Jorge Marinez and Blake Shroeder had two points each.

As a team the Rebels were 17 of 43 (43 percent) for two point shots, 4 of 14 (29 percent) for three point shots and 10 of 13 (77 percent) for free throws.

The Bulldogs were 16 of 31 (52 percent) for inside the arc and 5 of 21 (21 percent) from outside the arc and 13 of 21 (62 percent) from the line.

The Rebels had 39 rebounds to JWP’s 30, but had only four steals to the Bulldogs 11.

USC’s next game was this past Friday, Dec. 10, when they played Randolph.

Madelia 61, USC 48

The United South Central Rebel boys basketball team had a rough outing in their first game of the season on Thursday, Dec. 2.

The Rebels lost to the Madelia Blackhawks, 61-48, despite having a 26-22 lead at the half.

“We worked very hard,” USC coach Adam Walker said. “It just became a sloppy game towards the end with both teams committing turnovers throughout.”

The Rebels were led by Nick Bushlack who had 13 points. Zale Bushlack had nine points and Luke Pederson and Johnny Martinez each scored seven points.

As a team the Rebels were 13 of 27 (48 percent) shooting from 2-point range, 3 of 32 from 3-point range (9 percent) and 13 of 18 from the free-throw line (72 percent).

The Blackhawks were 12 of 19 from 2-point range, 8 of 25 from behind the 3-point arc and 13 of 22 from the free-throw line.

One player for the Blackhawks, No. 5 Glover, had 29 points in the second half and 41 for the total game.

Next up for the Rebel boys was a game against Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton at home last Tuesday, Dec. 7, and another home game on Friday, Dec. 10.

This week the Rebels host Blue Earth Area on Tuesday, Dec. 14, then travel to Kenyon-Wanamingo on Friday, Dec. 17.