The Southland girls basketball team put up a fight, but they couldn’t knock off Plainview-Elgin-Millville (3-0 overall, 2-0 Three Rivers), which is ranked No. 1 in Class AA, as the Rebels lost 76-58 in Plainview Tuesday.

The Rebels (1-2 overall, 1-2 Three Rivers) were trailing by four points with 1:15 left in the first half when PEM rallied to take a 41-28 lead at the break and Southland was within eight points with 10 minutes left in the game.

“It was a battle the whole game and they pulled away at the end,” Southland head coach Russ Fostger said. “I was pretty happy with our kids and I thought we played really well. I saw a lot of good things and a lot of positive things.”

McKenzie Kirtz had 20 points and five rebounds for Southland and Corbyn Bendtsen had 13 points and five steals.

Southland 28 30 — 58

PEM 41 35 — 76

Southland scoring: McKenzie Kirtz, 20; Corbyn Bendtsen, 13; Sydney Bendtsen, 11; Katlin Webber, 9; Katilyn Kirtz, 3; Haley Laack, 2; free throws: 44 percent (4-for-9)