The Macomb High girls basketball team passed its first road test Tuesday evening, defeating Mercer County 46-38 in a non-conference contest at Aledo.
Macomb won its third straight game, improving to 4-2 on the season.
Mercer County, which won the RW/Ridgewood Thanksgiving Tournament last week, suffered its first loss in five games.
The visiting Bombers got off to a quick start, flying out to an 11-2 lead.
Senior guard Sophie Wilson led the early charge, scoring nine points.
Mercer County bounced back, finishing the quarter on a 10-5 run to slice its deficit to 16-12 entering the second period.
The Golden Eagles scored 10 of the first 12 points of the frame in taking a 22-19 lead. But a three-pointer by Wilson brought the Bombers even at 22-22.
Aubrey Holthaus scored the final three points of the half, giving Macomb a 25-22 halftime advantage.
Wilson and Holthaus combined to score all eight of Macomb’s points in the third period. That helped the Bombers maintain a slim 33-31 edge heading into the final eight minutes.
The Golden Eagles grabbed a 34-33 lead early in the final stanza, but a conventional three-point play by Wilson gave MHS the lead for good at 36-34.
Mercer County scored just four points, including one basket, the rest of the way as Macomb maintained control for the victory.
Wilson topped Macomb with 19 points, while Holthaus added 15 for the Bombers.
Dakota Thorman added four points for the Bombers. Jordan Hines and Josie Elbe added three points each, while Reese Watson rounded out the MHS scoring with two points.
The fresh-soph contest saw the Bombers score just one basket in the final quarter. But Olivia Clark’s three-pointer proved to be the difference as Macomb edged Mercer County 31-28.
It was the season opening contest for the JV squad. The contest was tied at 6-6 after the opening stanza before Watson and Brooklyn Lyles each scored five points in the second period in helping the visiting Bombers grab an 18-15 halftime lead.
The third frame saw Grace O’Hern and Taylor Mann tally four points apiece as MHS upped its advantage to 28-22.
The Golden Eagles scored six points in the last period, but also missed four free throws as the Bombers hung on for the win.
Watson toppedMacomb with seven points. Lyles and Clark added five points each, followed by O’Hern, Mann and Kinley Sloan with four points apiece.
Elbe chipped in two points for the victors. Macomb returns to action Dec. 1, heading to Lewistown for a Prairieland Conference crossover contest. The Bombers will then play at Camp Point Central on Dec. 4.
The next home game for the Bombers will be Dec. 11 against Rushville-Industry atWashington Street Gym.
