Poise and precision allow Bombers to go on second-half run, capture regional crown

FARMINGTON, Ill. — A three-point halftime deficit wasn’t cause for alarm, but Macomb boys basketball coach Jeremy Anderson knew everyone needed to take a deep breath.

The first half of Friday night’s Class 2A Farmington Regional championship against Sherrard had been too frantic.

“The first thing we had to do was be poised and be calm with the ball,” Anderson said. “They were speeding us up on the offensive end, and we were settling for some tough shots. Once we got poised, we said, ‘If we get stops, they can’t set up that pressure.’ We played good defense, and we kept our wits about us much better in the third quarter.”

Everything else just fell in place.

Braden Holthaus’ three-point play and 3-pointer on the next possession highlighted an 8-0 to start the second half, gave the Bombers the lead and propelled them to a 51-32 victory and their first regional championship since 2015.  

“It means a lot to our guys,” Anderson said. “They put in a ton of work and a ton of sacrifice. To be able to win the regional just makes all of that worthwhile.”

The Bombers (26-5) advance to the Class 2A Canton Sectional and will face Peoria Manual at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the semifinals. The Rams (21-11) won the Stanford Olympia Regional with a 61-31 victory over Clinton.

If Macomb can replicate the third-quarter effort, anything is possible.

Sherrard went without a field goal in the third quarter, getting only two free throws from James Blackwell that broke Macomb’s scoring into two eight-point runs. The second surge featured Ian Case scoring back-to-back baskets and all three field goals coming in the lane.

Macomb went 6 of 11 from the field in the quarter, while limiting Sherrard to 0-of-8 shooting with three turnovers.

“It’s a wonderful thing,” Anderson said. “You see the ball go through the bucket and now everything is OK. Now I can keep my man in front of me easier. Now I can defend this cut easier. It’s amazing.”

The Bombers also went 13 of 15 from the free-throw line while outscoring the Tigers 31-9 in the second half. Macomb never took its foot off the accelerator over the final 16 minutes.

“They were really hungry,” Anderson said. “They could feel the end was going to be near and we had our chance to get it right then. They kept their urgency.”