USC’s Taylor Schroeder, above, led the Rebels in scoring with 28 points against the Cleveland Clippers last Monday, Feb. 12.

The United South Central girls basketball team began their game on Monday night a little short-handed. Hosting the Cleveland Clippers, the Rebels were without the services of starting center Alivia Bruegger and reserve center Chloe Bullerman who were both out because of illness.

The situation became worse when two more of their starters had to leave the game because of injury. Although both players eventually returned to the court, the Rebels were unable to stop the Clippers and the visitors went home with a 69-58 victory.

“Not having Alivia really hurt,” USC head coach Taylor Ovrebo said after the game. “We run so much of our offense through her.”

The Rebels got off to a fast start. A drive and basket by Olivia Bungum followed by a steal and jump shot by Taylor Schroeder gave the Rebels a 4-0 lead. A 3-pointer by Ivy O’Rourke had USC on top 7-0.

However, Bungum had to leave the game with an ankle injury and the Clippers began to close the gap and eventually overtook the Rebels by a 12-11 margin.

Bungum returned to the game and two free throws by Schroeder returned the lead to USC 13-12 with 12:28 to play in the first half.

Thirty seconds later USC guard Maddie Dallman hit the floor hard and hurt her knee. She had to be helped off of the court and would not return until midway through the second half.

Another free throw by Schroeder followed by a basket by Addison Mithun extended the Rebels’ lead to 16-12.

The Clippers sandwiched two 3-pointers around a layup by Schroeder to tie the game at 18-18.

The two teams traded baskets from outside the arc to forge a 21-21 tie. Cleveland then added another 3-pointer, two baskets from inside the paint and one more “3” to cap a 10-0 run which put the Clippers in front 31-21.

An offensive rebound and basket by USC’s Alyssa Winkle completed the first-half scoring with Cleveland heading into the intermission with a 31-23 lead.

Cleveland opened the final 18 minutes of play with a 12-4 run to open up a 16-point, 43-27 lead over USC.

The Rebels kept clawing away and Schroeder’s basket off of an offensive rebound narrowed the Clippers’ advantage to eight points at 48-40 with 10 minutes remaining in the contest.

Just when it seemed USC had regained the momentum and was ready to make a run, Cleveland got hot and went on a 15-3 scoring spree to open up a 63-43 lead over the Rebels with 4:28 to play in the game.

USC kept battling but Cleveland held on for the 69-58 victory.

Leading scorer for the Rebels was Schroeder with 28 points. Bungum tallied 17, O’Rourke had nine, Mithun finished with four and Winkle had two.

The Rebels made 13 2-pointers, seven 3-pointers and 11 of 18 free throw attempts.

Mithun led USC in rebounds with 10 followed by Schroeder with nine and Bungum with five.

The loss left the Rebels with a record of seven wins and 17 losses. USC’s last regular-season game was at Medford on Friday, Feb. 16 with the playoffs set to begin the following week.