Southland gave the top-seed a good game but the Rebels fell short in a 64-60 loss at Maple River (22-5 overall) in the Section 2AA South Division boys basketball semifinals on the road Thursday.

No. 5 seeded Southland (14-13 overall) had a chance to tie the game at 62, but Mike Goergen had a contested lay-up roll out of the rim and Maple River hung on.

“It was like last year when Chris May had a similar shot miss (against Maple River),” Southland head coach Jon Thalberg said. “We had a good shot and it’s a shot Mike can make, but it didn’t fall.”

Southland trailed by as many as 15 in the first half but it crept back in the game.

“I was proud of our effort to come back. Early in the season when we went down early, we struggled and it just goes to show you how much we’ve grown this year,” Thalberg said. “I give credit to Maple River too, they play a tough in your face defense.”

Southland trailed 35-24 at the half.

Southland scoring: Alan May, 14; Decker Bendtsen, 15; Mike Goergen, 14; Nick Schmitz, 6; Sam Noterman, 4; Sam Klaehn, 3