Dylan Bonsack (4) gets by the Madelia defender during a game played in Wells on Jan. 7.

The United South Central Rebels boys basketball team lost 78-56 when they hosted the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers on Tuesday, Jan. 14.

The Rebels actually had an early lead and held onto it until about the seven minute mark of the first half.

“We led 19-14 before WEM put on a 1-3-1 full court press and the turnovers started piling up,” coach Adam Walker said. “They would finish the last seven minutes with a 22-4 run and a 36-23 lead.”

From that point the Rebels could not climb back into the game.

Wyatt Sparks led the way in scoring for the Rebels with 14 points. Dylan Stephens added 12 points and also led the team in rebounds with 11.

Zayden Schott and Aiden Crabtree each had nine points.

As a team the Rebels made 18 of 35 2-point shots (51 percent), 5 of 19 3-pointers (26 percent) and were 5 of 10 (50 percent) from the line.

The Buccaneers made 25 of 46 2-pointers (54 percent), 6 of 22 3-point tries (27 percent) and 10 of 12 free-throws (83 percent).

The Rebels had 27 rebounds to the Bucs’ 36, eight steals to their 12, three blocked shots to none for them and 20 turnovers to their 14. Both teams had 14 assists.

Next up for the Rebels was a game set for Friday, Jan. 17, against Hayfield.

This week they play Rochester Stem Academy on Monday, Jan. 20, at home, Medford on Tuesday, Jan. 21 and Blooming Prairie on Friday, Jan. 24, at home.

Kenyon-Wanamingo 63, USC 50

The United South Central Rebels jumped out to a 6-0 start in their game against the Kenyon-Wanamingo Knights on Friday, Jan. 10, but the lead quickly evaporated and the Rebels lost 63-50.

The first half went back and forth with Kenyon-Wanamingo going into the break at the half, up 35-30. The second half started with a couple quick KW buckets as well, to build their lead, coach Adam Walker explained.

He added that the Rebels hung in for a long time but eventually they ran out of gas down the stretch, with the Knights pulling away with shots at the free throw line.

Zayden Schott led the way in scoring with 18 points. Dylan Stephens added nine and Dylan Bonsack and Wyatt Sparks each had eight points.

Stephens led in rebounds with eight and Sparks had five.

The Rebels made 9 of 15 shots from inside the arc (60 percent), but only 8 of 34 tries from behind the arc (24 percent). They also made 67 percent of their free throws, 8 of their 12 tries.

The Knights were 53 percent for 2-pointers (16 of 30), 39 percent for 3-pointers (7 of 18) and 83 percent from the free-throw line (10 of 12).

The Rebels had 24 rebounds to the Knights’ 28, 12 assists to their 18, four steals to their five and no blocked shots to their four. Both teams had 14 turnovers.

USC 67, Nicollet 57

The United South Central Rebels jumped out early on the Nicollet Raiders, due to some hot outside shooting and great defense, and ended up with a big 67-57 victory on Thursday, Jan. 9.

A late in the first half 3-pointer brought the Rebels lead to 13, 35-22, at the buzzer, coach Adam Walker said.

“The second half started with two quick threes by Nicollet,” coach Walker said. “But we responded so well by adding a three and a bucket inside to maintain the double digit lead. Nicollet was never able to get our lead under eight from that point on and the Rebels won a nice road game.”

The Rebels had three players in double figures, with Zayden Schott leading the way with 22 points, including five three-pointers.

Wyatt Sparks added 17 points and Dylan Stephens had 16. Dylan Bonsack added six.

Bonsack, Sparks and CJ Schumann all had eight rebounds each.

As a team the Rebels made 15 of 25 2-point attempts (60 percent), 11 of 35 3-point tries (31 percent) and 4 of 14 free throws (29 percent).

The Raiders were 16 of 34 for 2-pointers (47 percent), 5 of 27 for 3-point attempts (19 percent) and 10 of 15 from the line (67 percent).

The Rebels had 37 rebounds to the Raiders’ 33, 20 assists to their nine, five steals to their eight and 19 turnovers to their 14. Both teams had three blocked shots.