USC’s Aiden Crabtree (2) gets free for a jump shot in the paint in basketball action at the Rebels’ gym.

The United South Central Rebels boys basketball team led the Maple River Eagles for most of the game, but ended up losing 54-48 at the end.

The game was played on Tuesday night, Dec. 10, in Mapleton.

The Eagles went on a 15-0 run with five minutes left in the game to take a 45-38 lead. The Rebels cut the lead to three, but Maple River shot well from the free throw line to take the victory.

“We led by as many as 11 points in the second half,” coach Adam Walker said. “But we were just unable to put the home Eagles away late in the game.”

USC had three players hit double figures in the scoring column. Zayden Schott scored 14 points, while Aiden Crabtree and Dylan Bonsack each had 10 points.

Dylan Stephens and Wyatt Sparks each tallied seven points. Sparks also led the team in rebounds with six, while Crabtree, Stephens and Bonsack had five rebounds each.

As a team the Rebels were just 5 of 22 for two-point shots (23 percent) but were 8 of 21 for three-point tries (38 percent). From the free-throw line they made 14 of 21 attempts for 67 percent.

The Eagles were 14 of 34 from inside the arc (41 percent) and 3 of 15 from outside the arc (20 percent). They made 81 percent of their free throws, 17 of 21.

USC had 28 rebounds to Maple River’s 30, eight assists to their 10, six steals to their seven, had four blocks to their one and had 16 turnovers to their 12.

Next up for the Rebels was a home game against Triton on Friday, Dec. 13.

This week they host Cleveland on Monday, Dec. 16, and play at New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva on Thursday, Dec. 19.

USC 50, FBA 45

The United South Central Rebels boys basketball team jumped out to a half-time lead, then had to hang on to defeat the Faribault Bethlehem Academy Cardinals 50-45 on Friday, Dec. 6.

The Rebels led 28-21 at the end of the first half, but the Cardinals came back and outscored the Rebels 24-22 in the second half.

USC was led by Dylan Bonsack who had 14 points in the game.

Wyatt Sparks added eight points and also led the team in rebounds, along with Dylan Stephens, with nine grabs each.

Zayden Schott had seven points for the Rebels, and Aiden Crabtree and Jayden Barnick each added six points in the win.

The Rebels led by seven at the half and scored quickly in the second half with a Sparks bucket to take their largest lead of nine. Barnick then sparked the team coming off the bench after an injury to CJ Schumann and scored six points inside. A Bonsack three-pointer and two clutch late free throws by Schott would help seal the five-point Gopher Conference win on the road.

As a team the Rebels shot 30 percent from inside the arc, making 16 of 31 two-point attempts. They made just 3 of 17 from behind the arc for 18 percent. They made exactly half, 9 of 18, of their free-throw tries.

The FBA Cardinals were 10 of 35 for 2-pointers (29 percent), 6 of 23 for 3-pointers (26 percent) and 7 of 14 for free-throws (50 percent).

“This game was sloppy from start to finish but I was very happy with the way we were able to close the game despite not playing our best,” coach Adam Walker said. “Shooting was a problem for both teams but a nice run to end the first half was what we needed.”

The Rebels had 27 rebounds but the Cards had 41. USC had 13 assists to FBA’s 10, 12 turnovers to their 13, two blocks to their six and both teams had nine steals.