The middle 16 minutes proved to be too much for the Macomb High boys basketball team to overcome in a 54-47 loss to West Hancock Tuesday evening at ‘The Hangar.’
“It was a good, competitive game,” said MHS coach Jeremy Anderson. “Both teams guarded well. Baskets were hard to come by.”
The visiting Titans led 13-10 after the opening eight minutes.
But the Bombers managed just two baskets and six points total in the second quarter.
Meanwhile, Jordan Crowley scored eight of West Hancock’s 13 points, including a pair of treys, as the Titans built a 26-16 halftime lead.
The third period saw West Hancock’s 6-foot, 9-inch post player Cooper Knowles score nine points, while Hunter Froman added five as the Titans pushed their advantage to 42-26 entering the last frame.
The 16 points included a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line, six by Knowles.
Macomb sliced the lead to single figures down the stretch, but the Bombers missed six free throws in the final minutes and West Hancock maintained control to close out the victory.
Despite the loss, Anderson liked what he saw from his team during its late rally.
“I was really excited about our perseverance against a top-notch team,” he said.
Drew Watson topped Macomb with 16 points, 10 in the final quarter, while Carter Havens added 11, nine in the second half.
Kellen Martin added nine points, followed by Nolan Hoge with five, Nick Elbe with four and Isaac Leinbach with two.
Froman led West Hancock with 15 points, while Knowles added 13, 11 in the second half.
Crowley also reached double figures, finishing with 12 points.
Macomb shot 11-of-20 from the free throw line, compared to 11-of-12 for West Hancock.
The Titans had three more baskets (19 with five threes) than the Bombers (16 with four threes).
The sophomore contest saw the Bombers notch a 44-34 victory.
Leading 9-8 after the opening period, Macomb outscored West Hancock 12-6 in the second quarter in building a 21-14 halftime lead.
MHS maintained control in the third frame, outscoring the Titans 8-7 to lead 29-21 heading into the final stanza.
Luke Chapla topped Macomb with 18 points, nine in the fourth period.
Cameron Keene added 12 points, eight in the second half, followed by Corey Robinson with eight and Carter Van Fleet with six.
Benton Boley topped West Hancock with 15 points.
Macomb (6-3) returns to action Friday evening, heading to Liberty (7-0) to face the undefeated Eagles.
On Saturday, the varsity squad heads to Abingdon to face Peoria Manual (4-1) at the Great Western Shootout.
