Bombers battle to erase deficit, come up short in Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament title game

MACOMB, Ill. — Two of the best defensive teams in the field squared off in the championship game of the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament. As expected, it was a grind-it-out affair. Third-seeded Rockridge built a 10-point halftime cushion despite leading scorer Landon Bull spending the final 6:35 on the bench with two personal fouls and held…

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

Camp Point Central guard Drew Paben has been part of a stout defense that is allowing just 28 points per game. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Central bounces back from last-second loss to defeat Southeastern for third place at Macomb

MACOMB, Ill. — The Central boys basketball team rebounded from a crushing last-second loss in Friday afternoon’s semifinals and defeated Southeastern 51-43 in the third-place game at the 76th annual Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament. Breyhar Wiskirchen led the Panthers (10-3) with 18 points.  Isaac Genenbacher scored 12 for Central, and Drew Paben added 10. Danny Stephens scored 30…

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Patience on offense, suffocating defense serving Southeastern well at Macomb

Southeastern's Danny Stephens prepares to make a move to the basket while being guarded by Macomb's Langdon Allen during Wednesday night's quarterfinal game at the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament in Western Hall. | David Adam

MACOMB, Ill. — Al Davis would have been proud. Most of the players on the Southeastern boys basketball team likely have never heard of the former owner of the NFL’s Oakland/Los Angeles (now Las Vegas) Raiders, but their “Just win, baby” mentality showed Wednesday night in a 30-27 victory over Macomb in the quarterfinals of…

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Moore never loses confidence, hits 3-pointer in final minute to help Central reach semifinals at Macomb

Central's Nick Moore drives to the basket while West Hancock's Gavin Grothaus defends in the second half of Wednesday's quarterfinal game in the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament in Western Hall. At left is Central coach James Barnett. | David Adam

MACOMB, Ill. — It’s a good thing Central’s Nick Moore has a short memory. His 3-pointer with 3:10 remaining in the fourth quarter cut West Hancock’s lead to 47-45. Thirty seconds later, Moore launched what could have been the go-ahead shot from the corner. Instead, the ball hit the support behind the backboard. “That wasn’t…

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Dear Diary: Spending a tournament day in Macomb for first time in more than 25 years

Southeastern's Danny Stephens tries to maneuver through a maze of Abingdon defenders during Tuesday's first-round game at the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament. | David Adam

MACOMB, Ill. — The last time I spent an entire day at the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament was in 1996 when a talented Stephen Decatur squad, led by Tarise Bryson, claimed the title by defeating Warsaw in the title game. That was so long ago that now Stephen Decatur doesn’t even exist. But when Muddy River…

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Illini West gives third-seeded Eureka scare, but top seeds prevail in first day at Macomb

Illini West's Gannon Bergmann flips a shot toward the rim while defended by Eureka's Tyler Heffren during Tuesday's first-round game at the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament at Western Hall in Macomb. | David Adam

MACOMB, Ill. — The top seeds held serve in each of the eight first-round games Tuesday in the 76th annual Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament. The Illini West boys basketball team had the best shot at pulling off an upset. The Chargers led No. 3 seed Eureka 15-4 after one quarter and by as many as 14 points…

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Photo gallery: Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament

Central's Isaac Genenbacher goes up for a shot during Tuesday's first-round game in the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament. | David Adam

MACOMB, Ill. — Muddy River News Editor David Adam provides photos from six games during the first round of the 76th annual Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament. Illini West vs. Eureka West Hancock vs. Canton (Ill.) Pittsfield vs. Macomb Southeastern vs. Abingdon Central vs. Lewistown Brown County vs. Farmington

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Holiday Tournament Roundup: Eagles finish fourth at Macomb after tough semifinal loss

The Liberty boys basketball team suffered a 54-38 loss to Macomb in the third-place game of the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament on Wednesday night at Western Hall. Photo courtesy Scott Holland, McDonough County Voice

MACOMB, Ill. — The Liberty boys basketball team nearly toppled one Class 2A program. The Eagles didn’t have enough in the tank to generate a second opportunity. Wednesday afternoon, in the semifinals of the 75th Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament, Farmington went on a 7-0 run over a 90-second span in the final two minutes of regulation…

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Holiday Tournament Roundup: Eagles outlast Panthers in overtime, reach semifinals in Macomb

Pittsfield's Bobby Stout, left, looks to make a pass against Macomb during Tuesday's quarterfinal game at Western Hall. Photo courtesy Scott Holland, McDonough County Voice

MACOMB, Ill. — An ankle injury put Logan Robbins on the sideline for the final 90 seconds of overtime Tuesday night in the quarterfinals of the 75th Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament. By that point, though, he had left his mark. Robbins’ dunk with two minutes remaining gave the Liberty boys basketball team a two-point lead over…

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Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament roundup: Saukees return from lengthy break, celebrate coach’s birthday with victory

MACOMB, Ill. — Brad Tomhave’s birthday wish was quite simple. All he wanted was a victory. Five minutes into Monday’s first-round game of the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament against Monmouth-Roseville, the Pittsfield boys basketball team didn’t look like it had anything gift-wrapped for the veteran coach. The Saukees allowed the Titans to score the game’s first…

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