Defensive-minded Panthers finish regular season perfect at home after grounding Bombers

CAMP POINT, Ill. — In a perfect world for Nick Moore, he would be playing run-and-gun, playground-style basketball. 

And defense? That would be little more than an afterthought.

Realistically, however, Moore knows that’s not how it works for a successful high school team.

“Yeah,” Moore said, trying to wipe away the expected grin. “I’d probably prefer to be in a game where we’re always scoring in the 70s.”

Then he paused.

“But I also enjoy winning, and defense is important for that,” he said.

Moore, a 6-foot senior guard for Central, was one of the key contributors at both ends of the floor for the Panthers on a Friday night that saw them take down Macomb 44-37.

Moore was one of three Central players who scored in double figures, and part of a defensive cast of Panthers who spent all four quarters nose-to-nose with an opponent they had struggled to beat in recent years.

The final seven-point margin may have been a bit misleading. Central (23-4), the No. 7-ranked Class 1A team, controlled a lead of 10 or more points for much of the second half against the Bombers (23-6), who are receiving votes in the Class 2A poll. A mild flurry of Macomb points in the closing 2 1/2 minutes, coupled with a 2-for-8 Central showing at the foul line in the fourth quarter, helped establish the final spread.

“Games against Macomb are always fun — we’re very similar,” said Central coach James Barnett, whose team led by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter. 

Friday night was probably as much of a relief as it was fun for Barnett, considering Central’s recent history against the Bombers. Macomb had won five in a row against Central, including the most recent three meetings by two points each.

“I don’t know if this win helped soothe some of those recent defeats, but it was nice to get a win on the night when our senior players were all honored (before) the game,” Barnett said. “This win also completed a perfect record at home for us this season.”

Central is 9-0 in Camp Point, and has won 10 in a row on its own floor dating to last season. The last home defeat? To Macomb, a year ago this month.

“We had lost some close games to Macomb, so it was nice to get this one,” said Central senior Carter Eyler after the 6-foot-4 forward scored 12 points to match 6-foot-2 frontcourt mate Isaac Genenbacher for game scoring honors. Moore finished with 10 points.

Genenbacher (8) and Eyler (6) were the two dominant rebounding figures, combining for 14.

Central never trailed after gaining the lead early in the second quarter and owning a 20-15 halftime edge. The Panthers led 34-25 after three quarters en route to their 18th straight victory against opponents within the Muddy River Sports coverage area. (Those 18 straight victories have come following a 54-44 season-opening loss to Brown County.) 

“A game like this was exactly what we needed to get ready for the postseason tournament,” Malcomb coach Jeremy Anderson said. “We’re kind of similar to Camp Point in that we used the same style — play tough, half-court defense and work the ball on offense.”

Barnett lauded Eyler’s overall effort in that “tough, half-court defense” Anderson mentioned, plus his workmanlike presence for the Central offense.

“He played his butt off,” Barnett said. “He finished strong around the basket, and that’s what we needed.”

Eyler is already looking ahead to the postseason, which starts later this month.

“This was about the kind of game we expected,” said Eyler, pointing to the physical play on both sides of the ball. “We’re ready for the postseason on both offense and defense. We’re right where we need to be.”

Macomb had no scorers in double figures, although Nolan Kerr, Jack Duncan and Dion Doyle each dropped in eight points. Duncan also had seven rebounds.