USC’s Nick Bushlack (2) gets around JCC’s Damien Phaly (1) on the baseline assisted by a screen from the Rebels’ Blake Schroeder (10). JCC rallied to defeat USC 68-64.

The United South Central boys basketball team played their hearts out, but lost 68-64 to the Jackson County Central Huskies in the opening round of the Blue Earth Area Holiday Tournament on Wednesday, Dec. 29.

The Rebels, missing two of their top players, led by 10, 32-22, at the half. But they were outscored by the Huskies 46-32 in the second half and suffered the loss.

“We made a great run to end the first half to give us a 32-22 lead, but we just couldn’t overcome nine, second half 3-pointers by Jackson,” coach Adam Walker said. “We built our lead to 11 midway through the second half and it went back and forth for quite a while. Our lead continued to dwindle in what seemed like a very long final 10 minutes, until JCC took the lead with just over three minutes to play.”

The Rebels were led by Zale Bushlack who scored 31 points in the game, as well as having 11 rebounds.

“I thought we played so hard as we were short handed, missing Colten Quade again, as well as Taybor Conley, who came down ill the night before,” coach Walker said. “Zale (Bushlack) was dominant inside the paint and from 3-point range tonight finishing with 31 points and 11 rebounds. And Nick (Bushlack) made some huge shots to finish with 16.”

The team was now set to battle for third place in the Holiday Tournament the next day. Details on that game will be in the next week’s edition of the Faribault County Register.

“We play at 5 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday, Dec. 30) against T/ML/GHEC in Blue Earth,” the coach said. “We will again be without Quade for sure, and possibly Conley, depending on how he feels prior to game time.”

The Rebels record is now 2-5, and 2-2 in Gopher Conference play.