By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

The Richland Rebels picked up the No. 7 seed in the Varsity bracket of the 2012 SCAA Tournament. The Rebels have accumulated a 2-11 overall record so far in the season.

Richland has struggled in contests with other SCAA teams so far this season; all three of their losses within the county came in blowout fashion - 74-41 against Bloomfield, 78-31 against Dexter, and a slightly improved 77-58 decision against Puxico - but the Rebels do hold a 64-63 victory over the Bell City Cubs.

Head coach David Reynolds notes that despite their record, his team is showing improvements recently.

“I feel we've got a little better defensively as the season has gone on,” Reynolds said. “Although we still have a ways to go to improve.”

The Rebels are set to open the tournament against the No. 2 Advance Hornets. The two squads met on January 13, and saw the Hornets emerge with a 89-63 victory.

Advance’s 6’4” center Ethan Barr will again have a tough task on his hands with Richard Forshee, Richland’s 6’11” center. Forshee has had several great scoring efforts recently; the junior has had two 40-plus point games since the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament.

“It should be a battle in the paint,” Reynolds said of the Barr/Forshee matchup. “Those guys are a couple good players that really leave it on the floor.” “We played them a last week so we both kind of have an idea on what each other has to do,” he continued. “I look for us both to make adjustments and hopefully give the crowd a good competitive game.”

The Rebels didn’t enter a JV team in the tournament; the Varsity squad is set to tip off at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday.