USC, led by 6-foot-8 Kyle Bauman, improved to 2-1 in beating the Panthers. The Rebels were up 28-16 at halftime.
“Both teams played hard tonight,” said Churchill. “USC is a very, big physical team with Bauman, who brings a lot of size and physicality with his game.”
It was close for three minutes. Then USC went on a run to take a 13-4 lead. The Panthers battled back within 15-14 when Bauman picked up his second foul and sat with six minutes remaining in the first half.
“This was the key moment of the game,” said Churchill.
USC went on a 13-4 run to end the half and go into the locker room up by 12.
“We needed to buckle down with Kyle out, run our motion and take advantage in the paint, but we didn't do that,” said Churchill. “Credit goes to their defense. They forced us out of what we needed to do on offense and it really hurt us.”
The second half was a stalemate with neither team making much of a run either way.
“I thought we played much better tonight then we did on Tuesday,” said Churchill. “We put forth a great effort. It just wasn't good enough tonight. I told our kids to be disappointed that we lost but to hold their heads up after tonight. If we play with that effort the rest of the year, we will be just fine. We took a nice step forward.”
Individually: Sorenson 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists; Carlson 10 points; Lundberg eight points, five rebounds; Nic Mangskau five points; Meyer four points; Tollefson two points, five rebounds; Hanna two points.
Bauman finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds for USC.
The Panthers played Tuesday at Bethlehem Academy. They’re at the JWP Invitational Friday and Saturday.
