Holthaus, Bombers finish hometown tournament on strong note, win third-place game

Macomb senior guard Braden Holthaus goes in for a layup during the third place game of the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament against Peoria Christian in Macomb, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

MACOMB, Ill. — Macomb senior guard Braden Holthaus was unusually tired after the first quarter of Saturday’s Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament third place game against No. 2 seed Peoria Christian. “I was exhausted,” Holthaus said. “That usually doesn’t happen.” The fourth-seeded Bombers playing their fourth game in 48 hours likely had something to do with that…

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Defense, offensive rebounding allow Bombers to put finishing touches on opening-round victory

Macomb senior guard Braden Holthaus drives to the basket during the Bombers' 46-32 win over Canton in the first round of the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament in Macomb, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

MACOMB, Ill. — The Macomb boys basketball team imposed its will when it mattered most. By doing so, the Bombers created the separation they needed to advance to the second round of the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament. The Bombers trailed Canton (Ill.) 28-26 with 35 seconds left in the third quarter and took a 30-28 lead…

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Bombers changed intensity, sense of urgency to clip Hornets in final pre-Christmas tuneup

Macomb guard Braden Holthaus sets up the offense during Saturday's game against Scales Mound in the Great Western Shootout in Abingdon, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

ABINGDON, Ill. — Two things had to change this time around, and they did. In the 2022 Great Western Shootout at Abingdon-Avon High School, the Scales Mound boys basketball team handled Macomb 50-31. “I thought a couple years ago, we were pretty good,” said Bombers coach Jeremy Anderson, whose team went 25-6 that season. “We…

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Holthaus, Bombers dial in from perimeter, shoot down Eagles to get back on track

Macomb guard Drew Watson throws a pass to teammate Ian Case during Friday night's game against Liberty in Liberty, Ill. | Samantha Carmean photo

LIBERTY, Ill. — Braden Holthaus admittedly has been searching for his shot during much of the early portion of the basketball season. The Macomb junior guard may have finally found it. Holthaus sank four of his seven 3-pointers in the first quarter — most well beyond the arc — to propel the Bombers to an…

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