It is said that “Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it.”
If that is indeed the case, the Macomb High girls basketball team will be just fine this season.
Hours after suffering a heartbreaking 61-60 overtime loss Friday night to Rock Island Alleman, the Bombers rebounded Saturday, defeating Canton 36-34 and Illini West 43-32.
MHS wrapped up play at the Macomb Bomber Girls Basketball Week Before Thanksgiving Extravaganza with a 3-2 record in claiming third place.
“We’re pretty happy with three wins against this competition,” said MHS coach Justin Elbe. “There’s some high-level teams that played here this week. I’m grateful that we played them, because I think that’s what you need to see how good you are and what you need to work on.”
In Friday’s loss to Alleman, free throw shooting, or lack thereof, proved to be the difference.
The Bombers finished just 16-of-31 from the line. While senior guard Sophie Wilson made 7-of-8 of her attempts, the rest of the team shot 9-of-23.
That included 6-of-14 in the overtime.
Meanwhile, Lyla Wiggins hit the game-winning threepointer at the buzzer that lifted the Pioneers to victory.
Wilson topped the Bombers with 22 points.
Aubrey Holthaus, who sank the second of two free throws with no time remaining to force overtime, added 15 points, while Jordan Hines added 13 before fouling out.
Reese Watson chipped in seven, followed by Dakota Thorman with two and Brooklyn Lyles with one.
Megan Hulke topped Alleman with 32 points before fouling out. Alysa Brinkman added 14 for the Pioneers, who finished 16-of-27 from the line.
The Bombers returned to the court Saturday morning to face Canton.
“Coming into (Saturday) morning was like a clean slate, a clean mind,” said Wilson. “We had a lot of energy in the locker room, so that helps.”
“The coaches really reiterated that it’s early in the season,” she added. “We made a lot of mistakes that’s easy stuff we can clean up.”
“The mindset was that we wanted to get that first win (against Canton),” said Elbe. “That was a big win for us.”
Not that it was easy. The contest was tied 23-23 heading into the fourth quarter. But the Bombers started the period with a pair of baskets by Holthaus, including a three, along with a pair of Hines free throws in building a 30-23 lead.
A layup by Watson gave MHS a 34-27 lead with 3:03 to go. But the Lady Giants got as close as 34-33 following a Makaylynne Correa trey in the final minute.
Free throws by Wilson and Hines helped Macomb hang on for the win.
Holthaus topped Macomb with 14 points. Wilson added eight points, followed by Hines with seven.
Ella McKee tallied her first varsity points for the Bombers, scoring five in a key third quarter stretch. Watson rounded out the scoring with two points.
Ava Gaines topped Canton with 10 points.
In the tournament finale against Illini West, Macomb broke free from a 20-20 halftime tie, allowing just five Charger baskets in the final 16 minutes.
“The second half, the girls just really stepped up,” said Elbe. “We adjusted what we were doing offensively and then we shored up our defense a little bit, creating some better advantages for us defensively.”
Wilson topped the Bombers with 17 points.
Hines and Holthaus added nine points each, while Thorman rounded out the scoring with eight points.
Myah Shutwell topped Illini West with 13 points, including three 3-pointers.
Wilson was one of six players named to the all-tournament team.
“She’s willing to take anything on her shoulders,” said Elbe of Wilson. “Whether that’s getting the team ready before the game, or whether it’s running the show up and down the floor.”
“She’s so good in transition,” he added. “You don’t realize how good she is running the halfcourt stuff too, getting people in the right spots and knowing who to get the ball to when and where.”
“We’ve got to have her on the court when things get tough,” said Elbe of Wilson. “She doesn’t get rattled.”
As a senior, she also understands her role in helping the underclassmen.
“I just try to be there for them,” said Wilson in working with the younger players. “Coming into varsity is hard, especially when you’re a freshman. I was there and I know what that feels like. When they make a mistake, you just have to pat them on the back and pick them up.”
Illini Bluffs and Havana both finished tournament play with 4-1 records. But IB defeated Havana 41-38 Saturday morning to claim the title.
Canton and Alleman both finished tournament play with 2-3 records, while Illini West finished 0-5.
In addition to Wilson and Alleman’s Hulke, Havana’s Kaydi Miller and Ava Kramer, along with IB’s Chloe Eeten and Emerson Eeten were also selected to the all-tournament team.
The Bombers have just one game scheduled this week as they head to Aledo Tuesday to face Mercer County (4-0), who won last week’s RW/ Ridgewood Tournament.
“We’re looking forward to having only one game next week and working on the things that we learned about ourselves this week (at practice),” said Elbe.
“I think we just take it day by day,” said Wilson. “We obviously have things to clean up like free throws and a couple of turnovers here and there.”
“We’ve just got to focus one day at a time and do some little stuff that turns into big things,” she added.
