A poor shooting performance in the first half cost the United South Central boys’ basketball team Thursday in a 69-48 2AA south subsection playoff loss against Blue Earth in Blue Earth.

The fourth-seeded Rebels (16-11) shot just 29 percent from the field in the first half and allowed the top-seeded Buccaneers (22-4) to get out in transition.

Blue Earth and Nate Carr especially, took advantage of USC turnovers to grab a 39-18 halftime lead.

The Buccaneers move on to face second-seeded Maple River Monday in Mankato.

Carr finished with a game-high 26 points and scored many of those points after Rebels turnovers.

“We just didn’t play as well as you’d hope,” said USC head coach Rob Stevermer.

The Rebels played the Buccaneers to a three-point game Feb. 9, but Blue Earth’s depth hurt USC Thursday.

Garrett Anderson scored 18 points and Brady Anderson added 12 for the Bucs.

Rebels sophomore Kyle Bauman scored a team-high 19 points and Riley Swearingen with 15 points was the other USC player in double figures.

The Rebels graduate four seniors.

BEA 69, USC 48

USC 18 30 — 48

BEA 39 30 — 69

USC scoring: Kyle Bauman 19, Riley Swearingen 15, Taylor Ovrebo 9, Riley Niebuhr 2, Chris Melby 2, Nick Fure 1.

BEA scoring: Nate Carr 26, Garrett Anderson 18, Brady Anderson 12, Nick Lee 8, Jared Smith 3, Taylor Owen 2.