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USC boys hold on for win against WEM

Stanke scores 19, Bonsack adds 17 to defeat the Buccaneers

By Chuck Hunt - Editor | Jan 21, 2024

USC’s Aiden Crabtree works his way inside to score for the Rebels in a game against St. Charles played earlier in January.

The United South Central Rebel boys basketball team pulled out a hard-fought, close win when they faced the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

As the last buzzer sounded, the Rebels had downed the Bucs by a score of 59-52.

“After WEM took the lead early 6-2, we finally got going offensively as we were able to turn some steals into transition baskets,” coach Adam Walker said. “Dylan Bonsack and Brennan Anderson would each add a three and Zayden Schott’s runner in the lane with under 10 seconds in the half gave us a 28-22 lead at the break.”

The second half went back and forth for most of the first 10 minutes with the Rebels never giving up their lead. That lead would eventually build to as many as 13 with about six minutes left.

The WEM Bucs, playing on their home court, would not go quietly however, as they would knock down a pair of 3-pointers to cut the lead to six. However, Brennan Anderson came in off the bench and would counter with two more 3-pointers and the Rebels would hang on in the closing minutes with a big road win 59-51.

“We struggled from the line in the first half, but Jon Stanke and Blake Bullerman came up big late to seal the win,” coach Walker added.

Three Rebels hit double figures in scoring, led by Stanke with 19. Bonsack made 17 points and Anderson added 11.

Stanke had 11 rebounds and Anderson had nine.

As a team the Rebels were 12 of 29 shooting 2-pointers (41 percent) and 7 of 27 for 3-pointers (26 percent). They made 14 of 24 free throws (58 percent).

The Bucs were 13 of 35 for 2-pointers (37 percent), 6 of 18 for 3-pointers (33 percent) and 7 of 10 (70 percent) for free throws.

The Rebels had 38 rebounds to the Bucs’ 28, 12 assists to their 10, eight steals to their six and 15 turnovers to their 17.

Next up for USC was a game on Friday, Jan. 19, against Hayfield, and a game on Saturday, Jan. 20, at Alden-Conger. Reports for those games will be in the next edition of the Faribault County Register.

A game that had been scheduled for Friday, Jan. 12, against Kenyon-Wanamingo was rescheduled to Thursday, Feb. 8.