Despite having what their coach called a very solid game, the United South Central girls’ basketball team lost 67-36 to the Maple River Eagles on Tuesday night, Feb. 8.

“We played as well as a team overall as we have all season,” coach Paul Meyer said. “We continue to improve as a team.”

The difference in the game is that Maple River “shot the lights out,” the coach says. They hit 11 of 24 shots from behind the 3-point arc, while the Rebel girls were just 2 of 10 for 3-pointers.

Leading the team in scoring was Hannah Meyer with nine points and she also had seven rebounds. Taylor Schroder had seven points and six rebounds, and Macy Zebro had six points and six rebounds.

“On offense we moved the ball and worked as a team,” coach Meyer said. “We reduced our turnovers to under 10 after having had 35 the night before.”

On defense the team boxed out and rebounded extremely well, the Rebels coach added, making the Eagles work for their shots. The problem was, they were shooting well. They shot over 50 percent for two pointers in the second half.

“If we continue to play like this we will find a win or two in these last two weeks of the season,” Meyer added. “And be ready to play spoiler in the tournament.”

The loss puts their record at 1-19.

This week the Rebels play at Madelia on Monday, Feb. 14, against Truman/Martin Luther/Grenada-Huntley-East Chain on Thursday, Feb. 17, at home, and at Medford on Friday, Feb. 18.

Southland 50, USC 31

It was the Rebels versus the Rebels when the United South Central Rebel girls took on the Rebel team from Southland High School on Monday night, Feb. 7.

Unfortunately it was the Rebels from Southland who won the game, 50-31.

“This was actually a solid game for us,” coach Paul Meyer said. “The score is deceptive as it was a 10-point game most of the night.”

He added that the team has started to minimize big runs by their opponents which is an area that has hurt them this season.

“The key to this game was our 35 turnovers, which kept our scoring down and we just could not overtake Southland,” he said. “Defensively we did a good job keeping us in the game. Offensively we were moving the ball and playing well together, but just limited ourselves offensively with the turnovers.”

Leading the team in scoring was Taylor Schroeder with 13 points. Macy Zebro added nine points and had six rebounds. Maya Zebro had six points and led the team in rebounds with nine. Lexi Johnson had seven rebounds.

As a team the USC girls were 12 of 32 for 2-point attempts, 1 of 6 for 3-point shots and 4 of 12 from the charity stripe.

The had six assists, nine steals and five blocks.

FBA 48, USC 37

The United South Central Rebels girls basketball team had a tough loss on Friday night, Feb. 4, when they fell 48-37 to the Faribault Bethlehem Academy Cardinals.

“The game started well and we moved the ball well and knocked down some shots,” Rebel head coach Paul Meyer said. “In fact, six minutes into the game it was tied 6-6. But unfortunately, a combination of turnovers and cold shooting allowed FBA to outscore us 23-4.”

Coach Meyer said he was proud of the way the team handled the second half and gave themselves a chance to win the game.

“We came out and played a solid second half, cutting the lead down to seven, but we could not get the shots to fall and had a few key turnovers,” the coach explained. “We simply need to get some stops in the first half so we are not digging out of such a big hole.”

Taylor Schroeder led the team in scoring with 16 points. Maddie Dallman added eight, including going 2 for 2 behind the arc, and Maya Zebro added six.

Zebro also led in rebounds with nine, while Lexi Johnson had eight and Hannah Meyer five.

The Rebels shot 14 of 31 for 2-pointers, 2 of 8 for 3-pointers and 3 of 13 from the free-throw line. They had 34 rebounds, nine assists, six steals, six blocks and 25 turnovers.