NEW RICHLAND &045; His NRHEG boys’ golf team was able to beat them in the regular season, but coach Xan Johnson figured it was only a matter of time before United South Central lived up to preseason expecations.

That time was the Gopher Conference tournament, which the Rebels won by 11 strokes Friday on New Richland’s River View Golf Course. The Panthers were third, 13 strokes off the pace.

&uot;It was just a matter of time before the USC juggernaut started gaining momentum,&uot; said Johnson. &uot;After struggling somewhat early in the year they seem posed at capturing another sub-section title.&uot;

The Rebels won with 315 strokes, followed by JWP with 326, NRHEG 329, Blooming Prairie 340, Bethlehem Academy 345 and Alden-Conger 399.

Co-medalists Chris Adams and Justin Knutson led USC with 77s. Scott Halvorson shot 80, Ben Wetzell 81 and Ryan Treptow 82.

Jess Recknor and Justin Beatty both carded 78 to lead the Panthers. Andy Braaten shot 86 and Bryan Kormann 87.

&uot;The boys had a pretty good outing,&uot; said Johnson.

Adams, Knutson, Recknor and Beatty earned all-conference honors along with Jon Conlon and Sean Finley of JWP and Steve Busho of Blooming Prairie. Receiving honorable mention were Halvorson, Wetzell, Treptow, Jake Budde of Bethlehem Academy and Sean Mulcahey of JWP.

The NRHEG girls finished third. USC won with 397. Blooming Prairie had 428, NRHEG 436, Bethlehem Academy 438 and Alden-Conger 518.

Mary Byron led the Panthers and was all-conference with a 101. Jenny Routh received honorable mention with a 104. Also scoring for the Panthers: Breanna Moe 115, Kristi Thompsen 116 and Tiffany Wayne 119.