The Macomb High girls basketball team returned to action for the first time in nine days on Dec. 4, facing Camp Point Central in a non-conference road contest.
The Bombers got off to a flying start before going ice cold in the middle quarters on the way to dropping a 57-49 decision to the Panthers.
Macomb dominated the opening period, racing out to a 22-7 lead.
But the Panthers prowled their way back into contention in the second quarter, outscoring the Bombers 19-6 to claw their way within 28-26 at halftime.
Central gained control in the third quarter as Macomb’s offense continued to sputter. The Panthers outscored MHS 18-7 in taking a 44-35 lead heading into the final eight minutes.
Sophie Wilson topped Macomb with 17 points. She also added five assists, three rebounds and two steals. Jordan Hines added 16 points, along with four rebounds and four steals.
Aubrey Holthaus and Reese Watson were next with five points each. Watson had seven rebounds and two steals, while Holthaus recorded three rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Dakota Thorman scored four points and had four rebounds and two steals, while Taylor Mann chipped in two points for the Bombers.
Lexi Niekamp led Central (2-3) with 19 points, while Agnes Genenbacher added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Panthers.
On Saturday, the Bombers headed to Lewistown for another non-conference contest.
Macomb battled its way to a 43-37 victory, handing Lewistown its first loss of the season.
MHS improved to 5-3 with the win with Lewistown slipping to 5-1.
Just as it did in its previous game with Central, Macomb got off to a fast start.
All five starters scored in the opening period in helping the Bombers fly out to an 18-10 lead.
Unfortunately for MHS, the second quarter again started as a struggle as Lewistown opened the frame with a 10-0 run, giving the Indians a 20-18 lead.
But Macomb closed out the half with a 9-1 run that included a pair of baskets by Hines. That allowed MHS to take a 27-21 lead into the break.
Complicating matters for Macomb in the quarter was the fact that Wilson, the team’s senior point guard, suffered a knee injury in the second quarter and would not return for the remainder of the game.
Points were few and far between for both teams in the third stanza.
Lewistown got as close as 30-29 following a pair of Joley McLaughlin free throws. But a Watson 3-pointer on Macomb’s next possession gave the visitors a 33-29 lead they carried into the final eight minutes.
The last period saw Macomb score the first five points. Another trey by Watson on an out-of-bounds play, followed by a Holthaus basket gave MHS some breathing room at 38-29.
But in the final minutes, Hines left with an injured ankle and Thorman fouled out. That left the Bombers with three freshmen and a sophomore joining Holthaus on the floor to close out the contest.
Watson led the Bombers with 13 points, along with five rebounds and six steals.
Hines added 12 points and nine rebounds, while Holthaus also reached double figures with 11 points, also recording five rebounds.
Wilson had three points, while Thorman also scored three points, chipping in a pair of rebounds and a pair of assists.
Josie Elbe had a free throw, along with five rebounds and four steals for Macomb.
Joley McLaughlin topped Lewistown with 15 points.
Carsyn Braun and Addison Roddis added seven points each for the Indians.
The fresh-soph Bombers had better luck during the week, recording a pair of victories.
The Bombers pulled away in the final quarter against Central in recording a 44-28 victory.
The Panthers led 7-6 after the opening period before the contest was tied at 17-17 by halftime.
MHS led 29-28 entering the final frame.
Ella McKee topped a balanced Macomb scoring effort with 10 points. She also added five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Grace O’Hern, Watson and Mann added eight points apiece. O’Hern also had four rebounds, three steals and two assists, while Watson and Mann combined for seven rebounds.
Brooklyn Lyles and Elbe tallied four points each with Elbe pulling down six rebounds.
Kinley Sloan chipped in two points while also recording a team-leading nine rebounds.
At Lewistown, the Bomber fresh-soph notched a 40-22 victory.
MHS led 10-5 after the opening quarter and 19-14 at halftime. The lead grew to 28-15 entering the last period.
Mann led Macomb with 13 points and six steals. She also chalked up four assists and three rebounds.
Watson added 10 points, five steals and three rebounds, while Lyles added six points and three rebounds.
Elbe scored four points and grabbed seven rebounds, while O’Hern also scored four points, chipping in a pair of steals.
Sloan had three points, along with four rebounds and three steals, while McKee contributed four rebounds and three steals.
The Bombers headed to Bushnell Monday for a Prairieland South Division contest against host Bushnell- Prairie City (1-4).
On Thursday, the Rockets will play their first game of the season at Washington Street Gym, hosting Rushville- Industry.
