Panthers head to Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament yet to allow any opponent 40 points

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Defense is top priority at Camp Point Central, no matter the sport.

“We preach it. It’s not just me preaching it,” said James Barnett, the boys basketball coach whose team enters the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament this week not having allowed an opponent to score 40 points in a game yet this season.

“Coach (Brad) Dixon is preaching it on the football field. These guys take pride in that. We set goals for ourselves for what we think we can do. If we feel we can get a shutout on a team in a quarter, they get amped up for it. That’s a big accomplishment to hold a team scoreless for eight minutes.”

Since the football team gets donuts for shutouts, what does the basketball team get for a quarter-long shutout?

“I probably should do something for them,” Barnett said with a laugh.

After thinking about it for a second, he came up with their reward.

“They win the game if we do it,” Barnett said.

So far, that’s been enough. The Panthers are 8-0 and the No. 1 seed for loaded tournament that kicks off Thursday at Western Hall on the Western Illinois University campus. The other seeded teams are No. 2 Illini Bluffs, No. 3 Rockridge and No. 4 Pittsfield.

Those three are a combined 27-5. Toss West Hancock (9-2) and Macomb (10-3) into the mix and the depth of contenders grows, while Illini West (7-5) has won six of its last eight and is finding its footing under first-year coach Blaize Kimmell.

None of them, though, have the defensive pedigree of the Panthers.

Central is allowing 28 points per game and has held two opponents to fewer than 20 points. Only three of the first eight opponents have scored more than 30 points.

“We trust each other to do assignments and our jobs,” senior guard Drew Paben said. “We still have that bond. All these guys were football players and we’ve stepped right into basketball. We just want to make sure to work hard so the other team doesn’t score.”

What happens if someone tops the 40-point threshold?

“He’ll probably make us run,” junior forward Elijah Genenbacher said of Barnett.

Barnett said it might not be as arduous as the Panthers might think.

“We’ll have a little more focus on things the next practice,” Barnett said.

He’s also realistic to believe that day is coming.

“We’re going to see teams, starting with the Macomb tournament and the second half of the year, that can put points on the board,” Barnett said. “Our schedule is going to challenge us and test us in that regard.

“But I think we’ve shown what we can do with fresh legs and when we’re prepared.”

That’s the ability to completely shut an opponent down.

“It’s communication,” Genenbacher said. “We practice it a lot and we’re all in the right spots. We know how our defense works. We’re all working together and really communicating well.

“Our defense turns into our offense. So defense is the main part of what we do.”

That won’t ever change. But on the nights the defense struggles or gets pushed to the limit, the Panthers still have to find a way to win. Barnett believes this group can do that.

“They really bought into that last year,” Barnett said. “There were a lot of games early last season where that was our halftime talk. Defensviely, we’re doing good things. Offensively, we’re getting good looks but they’re just not going in. So we have to find a way.

“If that means we have to play a little zone, if that means we have to change this, we’re going to do whatever it takes to try to win that game knowing we’re going to continue to get better. They bought into that and it has carried over to this year.”