Different approach, same result: Titans use inside presence to beat Panthers for second time

CAMP POINT, Ill. — The West Hancock boys basketball team has knocked off rival Camp Point  Central twice in a six-day span.

The Titans’ two victories, however, were hardly mirror images.

West Hancock’s 45-42 West Central Conference victory before 625 fans on Thursday night resulted from a second-half comeback and a reliance on a strong inside presence.

Less than a week before, the Titans unleashed a 3-point assault in a perimeter-driven game plan. West Hancock led for 27 of that contest’s 32 minutes in a 58-46 win in the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament.

“The first time we played them, we made 13 threes, this time we made one,” West Hancock coach Jeff Dahl said. “This was a grind. Winning is always tough at Camp Point, and Central is always very disciplined.”

West Hancock’s Lewis Siegfried, who had 22 points against Central a week earlier, was held to nine this time. In that first meeting, Siegfried nailed six 3-point field goals. On Thursday, he registered zip.

“(Central) was not letting us shoot threes this time,” Siegfried said. “We weren’t getting any great looks.”

So the Titans adjusted, most noticeably in the second half when West Hancock controlled the momentum — and the scoreboard. The Titans outpointed Central 12-6 in the third quarter to take a 32-29 advantage. Although Central tied the score at 32 early in the fourth, West Hancock never surrendered the lead down the stretch.

“Our defense was able to deny their offense in the second half,” Siegfried said.

Especially in the closing moments.

West Hancock defenders were able to effectively pester would-be Central shooters in the final 11.5 seconds, not allowing the Panthers to get off a clean 3-point attempt.

Central’s Elijah Genenbacher felt the frustration in those closing seconds when the Panthers misfired on three tries at the basket.

“We were in kind of an offensive lull in the second half,” Genenbacher said. “We just couldn’t score.”

The victory boosted West Hancock to 13-3 overall and 3-0 in the WCC. 

Central (11-3, 5-1 WCC) had beaten the Titans in five straight meetings prior to the recent back-to-back setbacks.

Central, which entered the game ranked No. 8 among the state’s Class 1A programs. has lost three of its last four outings. While disappointed, Panthers coach James Barnett is not overly concerned.

“Basketball is a long season, and we are not close to where we will be later in the year,” Barnett said. “We have the chance to be a great team by the end of the season, but right now we are just a good team. And it’s not like we have lost to bad teams. Two of the defeats have been to West Hancock and the other to Macomb (12-3).”

West Hancock’s Gavin Grothaus took game scoring (14) and rebounding (7) honors. Teammate Cooper Knowles, a developing 6-foot-6 sophomore center, finished with 12 points, five boards and a pair of blocks. Knowles garnered six of his points in the fourth quarter.

“We’ve got a lot of guys who can score,” Dahl said.

Siegfried and Grothaus have carried the hottest hands of late. Siegfriend has averaged 15.5 points per game over his last five starts, while Grothaus has a 10.4 mark in that same period.

Genenbacher (12) and Nick Moore (10) were Central’s top point producers. 

Gavin Blewett, one of the region’s top inside threats, was plagued by foul trouble and limited to six points and five rebounds. Blewett has been Central’s most consistent offensive threat (11.3 ppg) during the club’s post-Christmas games and scored 17 in the first meeting against West Hancock.

Central has allowed more than 40 points in a game just twice this season — both to West Hancock.

“We had some mental lapses on the defensive side in the second half,” Barnett said. “We allowed a lot of second-chance opportunities in the second half.”

West Hancock and Central will meet for a third time later this month in a Jan. 26 matchup in Hamilton.