United South Central guard Colten Quade (3) tries to dribble around a defender during a recent game at the USC gymnasium in Wells. Quade led the Rebels with 17 points and seven rebounds when USC almost pulled off an upset of the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers on Jan. 25. The Rebels will be back in action on their home floor on Monday, Jan. 31, when they host St. Charles. They will also be at home on Friday, Feb. 4, to take on Bethlehem Academy.

The United South Central Rebels boys’ basketball team nearly pulled off the upset of the year when they played against the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers last Tuesday, Jan. 25.

After trailing by a big deficit of 30-16 at the half, the Rebels came back and nearly pulled it off, but fell just short and lost 53-50.

“For the third game in a row, we really struggled out of the gate to generate offense and make stops defensively,” coach Adam Walker said. “WEM, who is generally not a great outside shooting team, knocked down their first four 3’s to jump out 14-0 early.”

The Rebels made a couple runs throughout the game but the biggest came in the last 5-6 minutes.

“We were down 13 before a WEM player earned a technical foul and ejection to ignite our squad and eventually cut the lead down to two with a minute to play,” the USC coach tells. “We had two opportunities to tie, and then a third with 12 seconds remaining. Johnny Martinez’ 3-point play in the paint was waved off and ruled no basket that would’ve given us a chance at the lead.”

Unfortunately, the young sophomore missed both. The Rebels did get one last chance after WEM converted on 1 of 2 free-throws, the coach explains, but USC turned it over on the inbounds with seven seconds to play with the score at 50-47.

WEM made 1 of 2 free-throws again on an intentional foul call. The Rebels fouled again and the Bucs made both before Colten Quade hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the game at 53-50.

Quade had 17 points and seven rebounds to lead the Rebels. Luke Pederson also had seven rebounds and nine points.

Martinez had eight points, Blake Schroeder seven points and Nick Bushlack six.

As a team the Rebels were 11 of 36 for 2-pointers (31 percent), 6 of 21 for 3-pointers (29 percent) and 10 of 25 for free-throw attempts (40 percent).

The Buccaneers were 8 of 21 for 2-pointers (38 percent), 6 of 16 for 3-pointers (38 percent) and 19 of 31 for free-throws (61 percent).

The Rebels had 29 rebounds to the Bucs’ 39, 16 assists to their 13, 10 steals to their seven and two blocks to their one.

USC was set to play at Blooming Prairie on Friday, Jan. 28. This week they are scheduled to host St. Charles on Monday, Jan. 31, then host Bethlehem Academy on Friday, Feb. 4.

Triton 77, USC 59

The United South Central Rebels’ boys’ basketball team had three players hit double figures in scoring, but ended up losing to the Triton Cobras by a score of 77-59 on Friday night, Jan. 21.

The Rebels got off to a slow start and were behind 37-24 at the end of the first half.

“Thirty-one turnovers and another rough start was too much to overcome tonight,” coach Adam Walker said after the game. “Down 13 at halftime and quickly down 19 in the second half. We had a couple chances to cut the lead into single digits in the second half, but just couldn’t make enough plays when we needed to.”

Leading scorer for the Rebels was Colten Quade with 16. Zale Bushlack scored 11 and Johnny Martinez added 10.

As a team USC made 18 of 37 from 2-point range (49 percent), 5 of 18 from behind the 3-point line (28 percent) and 8 of 12 at the free-throw line (67 percent).

Triton was 17 of 37 for 2-pointers (46 percent), 8 of 19 in 3-point shooting (42 percent) and 19 of 27 from the charity stripe (70 percent). Owen Petersohn led the Cobras with 24 points.

The Rebels had 30 rebounds to Triton’s 33, 16 assists to their 21, 13 steals to their 18, three blocks to their four, 31 turnovers to their 23 and 24 fouls to Triton’s 17.

The Rebels next game was set for Monday, Jan. 24, but was postponed. They were scheduled to play Blooming Prairie on Friday, Jan. 28. USC will host St. Charles on Monday, Jan. 31 and Bethlehem Academy on Friday, Feb. 4.