Titans put ‘stagnant’ start behind them, roll into semifinals for rematch with Bombers

MACOMB, Ill. — West Hancock boys basketball coach Jeff Dahl barely recognized his team over the first quarter and change of Friday’s Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament quarterfinal game against Eureka.

“It looked like we were disinterested, and I don’t know why because we have to win this to go on,” Dahl said. “It was really irritating.”

The team that opened up a 30-point lead over the next 13 minutes looked more familiar. After falling behind 13-10 with 7:43 left in the second quarter, West Hancock went on a 20-0 run over the ensuing seven minutes, led 50-20 with 2:49 left in the third quarter and advanced to the semifinals with a 56-42 win.

“That’s what I’m expecting,” Dahl said.

When the Titans found themselves tied at 10 through one quarter and a Jacob Schulz 3-pointer gave the Hornets a three-point lead 17 seconds into the second quarter, West Hancock senior guard Lewis Siegfried was admittedly slightly concerned.

“It was a little scary there for a second,” Siegfried said.

Still, he always believed a run was in there somewhere.

“I had faith in our team to find a groove, and we found that groove,” Siegfried said.

Dahl called the offense “stagnant” before it found its rhythm when the Titans’ movement led to open shots.

“We started driving and kicking more,” said Siegfried, who made a pair of 3-pointers and had 10 points. “We figured out that they were collapsing a lot on our drives and the kickouts were open. Once we started kicking out, they started backing out more, and then the layups were open.”

Sophomore guard Hunter Froman scored 13 of his 15 points in the second quarter, the final two of which came on a layup that gave the Titans a 32-16 halftime lead.

“I just started getting in the groove of things I guess,” Froman said. “It just happens sometimes.”

Dahl said Froman’s aggressiveness served him well.

“He had a nice game,” Dahl said. “He had some really nice drives to the basket. He’s really good at that. He shoots it well, too, but he’s a really good athlete, and he attacked the basket off the dribble.”

Junior forward Cooper Knowles gave the Titans a 14-13 lead on a tip-in with 6:34 left in the first half, and within the next five minutes, the lead ballooned to 17.

“We just kind of slowed the game down instead of getting rushed,” Knowles said. “They started missing shots and that’s when we can get our great shots at the other end.”

Knowles had 15 points, eight rebounds and six blocks — five in the first quarter — without committing a foul. Knowles said timing is the key to his ability to block shots without fouling.

“I just try to wait until they jump and then elevate and miss their body,” Knowles said. “I just meet them up at the backboard and block it up there.”

Dahl said Knowles’ knack for timing his jump perfectly is innate.

“I don’t think you can learn that. It’s just something you have or don’t have,” Dahl said.

On multiple occasions, Knowles blocked the shot and got the rebound all in one motion.

“I try to block it off the backboard and grab it so I can get it,” Knowles said.

The top-seeded Titans (9-1) will clash with fourth-seeded Macomb in the semifinals at 1:30 p.m Saturday. Macomb defeated West Hancock 58-55 last season, but Knowles likes the Titans’ chances this time around.

“They’ve got pretty good guards that can shoot, but I think we’re the longer, athletic team,” Knowles said. “We should beat them if we play our game. I think we’re going to get the shots we want. We have to play good perimeter defense and not let them get those threes up, and I think we’ll be fine.”