CJ Schumann, above, works hard underneath the basket to score two points in a game played earlier this season against Faribault B. A. Schumann scored 15 points in USC’s game against Blooming Prairie.

The United South Central Rebels used a very stingy defense to take a big 20-point, 51-31 victory over the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Panthers on Friday night, Dec. 22.

“We struggled to get shots to fall throughout most of the first half,” coach Adam Walker said. “But defensively we were outstanding, holding NRHEG to just 15 points at the end of the first half.”

The Rebels scored 22 in the first half and added 29 in the second half, while the Panthers were held to 15 in the first half and 16 in the second half.

Rebels Dylan Bonsack and Zayden Schott shut down the Panthers’ Daxter Lee, their 1,000-point scorer, to just two free throws and an 0-5 shooting night, coach Walker noted, adding that Jon Stanke contributed to that defensive effort in helping the Rebels create 32 turnovers from NRHEG throughout the night.

“The second half was much better as Aiden Crabtree knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and Stanke scored on numerous fast break opportunities thanks to our tenacious defense,” the Rebels’ coach said.

Stanke led the team with 28 points and also in rebounds with eight as well as eight steals. Crabtree added 11 points, CJ Schumann had five and Blake Bullerman and Nathan Mutschler had three each.

As a team, the Rebels made 16 of 41 for 2-pointers (39 percent), 4 of 15 for 3-pointers (27 percent) and 7 of 21 for free throws.

The Panthers were 7 of 26 for 2-pointers (27 percent), 3 for 14 for 3-pointers (21 percent) and 8 of 12 for free throws (67 percent).

The Panthers outrebounded the Rebels 39-28, but the Rebels had 11 assists to their seven, 16 steals to their 9, and, a huge key to the win, only 14 turnovers to their 32.

Next up for the Rebels was competing in the Blue Earth Area Holiday Tournament on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 27 and 28. On Thursday the Rebels were set to face Sibley East at 2:30 p.m. and on Friday they were scheduled to play Truman/Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain at 2:30 p.m. Results and details will be in the next week’s edition of the Faribault County Register.

Blooming Prairie 69,

USC 61

The United South Central Rebels boys’ basketball team fought hard when they took on a very good, and tall, Blooming Prairie Blossoms team on Tuesday, Dec. 19, but they ended up losing a close battle when the final buzzer sounded, falling 69-61.

“This was a back and forth battle all night,” says coach Adam Walker. “Blooming Prairie took a 10-point lead midway through the first half, but we would close strong to within five at the break.”

The score at the end of the first half was 37-32 in favor of the Blossoms. BP would also outscore USC 31-29 in the second half.

The Rebels, behind some hot shooting from Aiden Crabtree in the second half, would actually take a 5-point lead at 55-50 with about six minutes left to play, coach Walker said.

“But after Jon Stanke fouled out we really had a tough time getting our offense rolling,” the coach explained. “And BP would eventually retake the lead and make free throws down the stretch to get the win.”

Blake Bullerman led the team in scoring with 16 points. Crabtree scored 15, CJ Schumann had seven and Stanke had five. Brennan Anderson added three and Wyatt Sparks and Dylan Bonsack each had two.

As a team the Rebels made 15 of 33 tries from inside the arc (45 percent) and 7 of 21 from outside the arc (33 percent). They were 10 of 15 for free throws (67 percent.)

The Blossoms were 27 of 45 for 2-pointers (60 percent), 2 of 14 for 3-pointers (14 percent) and 11 of 22 from the charity stripe (50 percent).

The Rebels had 28 rebounds to the Blossoms’ 31, 13 assists to their 15, five steals to their 16 and 25 turnovers to their 12.

USC 63, MCW 48

The United South Central Rebels came out with a big win, 63-48, against a pesky Martin County West Mavericks team who would just not go away all night when the two played on Monday, Dec. 18.

“We jumped out to a 13-point halftime lead and would lead by 18 midway through the half,” coach Adam Walker said. “But a pair of 3-pointers and some foul trouble helped them climb back to within 10.”

The Rebels’ defense would remain strong, however, and help the team come out with a big win.

The Rebels had three players hit double figures. Jonathan Stanke had 17 points, followed by CJ Schumann with 15 and Aiden Crabtree with 12. Stanke would also lead in rebounds with eight.

Blake Bullerman, Nathan Mutschler and Dylan Bonsack each had five points.

As a team the Rebels shot 51 percent from the floor. They were 20 of 36 for 2-pointers (56 percent) and 5 of 13 for 3-pointers (38 percent). They made 8 of 21 from the free-throw line (38 percent).

The Mavericks were 12 of 27 (44 percent) for 2-pointers, 6 of 18 (33 percent) for 3-pointers and 6 of 9 for free throws (67 percent).

The Rebels had 32 rebounds to the Mavericks’ 21, 19 assists to their 11, 12 steals to their 5, 18 turnovers to their 20, and both teams had two blocks.