WELLS — It came down to the wire, but in the end the Panthers came out victorious over the Rebels.

The NRHEG girls’ basketball team defeated United South Central 63-59 Friday at USC in a Gopher Conference showdown.

In general the game was evenly matched, with NRHEG leading by six points at halftime. USC outscored  NRHEG by two points in the second half.

“We tweaked our defense trying to shut down their big girls (Shianne) Robertson and (Lauren) Allis,” said NRHEG coach Onika Peterson. “The girls worked very hard inside, but we struggled boxing out their bigs which allowed them to score a lot of their points on second chance shots.”

Robertson led the Rebels’ offense with 19 points, while also grabbing 20 rebounds.

The Wagner sisters led the Panthers’ offense. Maddie Wagner scored 27 points, while Marnie Wagner contributed 18.

“Maddie Wagner was really hot from the three-point line,” said USC coach Dale Koestler. “It seemed like every time we’d get close she’d go and nail a three.”

The win brings the Panthers’ record to 12-4 overall and 4-2 in the Gopher Conference. Next, NRHEG will face Blue Earth Area (5-4, 3-2 Big South Conference) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on the road. The Rebels previously defeated the Buccaneers 41-30 on Dec. 1.

USC (11-3, 4-2) will play St. Clair (12-3, 5-1 Valley Conference) next at 6 p.m. Tuesday on the road.

The Rebels and the Panthers will once again meet at 7:15 p.m. Feb. 12 at NRHEG.

If Friday’s game was anything to go on, it should be another close matchup.

“It was a good game to the end,” Koestler said. “They made some big shots and we hit some big shots, too, just not quite enough tonight.”