On Jan. 16, the South Loup Bobcats traveled to Arcadia to play the Arcadia-Loup City Rebels. The game had a fast start for the Rebels as they hit five 3-point shots in the first quarter. The strong shooting would put the Rebels ahead of the Bobcats at the end of the first.

In the second quarter, the Bobcats would switch to a man defense to combat the Rebels and their great shooting efforts. The Bobcats would start to get a little bit out of their offense too. However, the shooting would still prevail with the Rebels being just ahead of the Bobcats at halftime.

The Rebels would begin the second half just as hot as they were in the first. Hitting shots when needed and the Bobcats still struggling to get points combined to put the Bobcats down 10 points going into the fourth.

The experienced Bobcats were able to cut the lead down slowly and got within 2 with under a minute to go. A steal and layup by senior Trey Connell would tie up the game and send it into overtime.

However, the Rebels would prevail as they dealt the Bobcats a heartbreaking loss, 61-53.

Connell led the Bobcats with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals. Fellow senior Joey Sallach contributed 7 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block, and 3 steals. Cache Gracey, also a senior, added 12 points to the Bobcat side of the board, pulled down 3 rebounds, had 3 assists, and 1 steal. Connor Paulsen and Dylan Pandorf were each good for 6 points.

South Loup was scheduled to meet Ansley-Litchfield on Thursday, Jan. 18, but that game was postponed due to weather. The Bobcats played Brady on Monday in the first round of the MNAC tournament. No results were available as of press time.

Conference tournament play continues this evening (Jan. 25) with the finals set for Saturday. Both of those games will be played in Broken Bow.