The Macomb High girls basketball team was aiming to spring an upset on state-ranked Brown County Monday evening.
Instead, the host Hornets stung the Bombers for the second time this season, notching a 67-45 victory.
Macomb, which won nine of its 10 games it played during the month of January, saw its record dip to 16-10.
Brown County, ranked No. 3 in Class 1A by the Associated Press, improved to 22-2.
The two teams faced each other on Dec. 27 in the Lady Tiger Classic at Beardstown. MHS trailed 38-34 three minutes into the third period before a 9-0 Brown County run ptopelled the Hornets to a 68-45 win.
Monday’s rematch saw Brown County roll up 22 points in the opening eight minutes, 10 from Lena Anderson as the Hornets flew out to a 22-11 lead.
Brown County outscored MHS 9-8 in the second period in taking a 31-19 advantage into halftime.
The home team revved up its offense in the third frame as Hope Ingram and Kenzie Kassing scored eight points each.
The Hornets went on to outscore the Bombers 22-16 in the quarter, upping the lead to 53-35 entering the final stanza.
Jordan Hines and Sophie Wilson topped Macomb with 14 and 11 points respectively.
Aubrey Holthaus added eight points and Dakota Thorman four points for MHS.
Brooklyn Lyles, Kinley Sloan, Reese Watson and Jordyn Shoopman chipped in two points apiece for the Bombers.
Ingram topped Brown County with 21 points, 14 in the second half.
Anderson added 18 points, 12 in the first half, while Kassing scored 14, 10 in the second half.
A modified JV contest was played following the varsity game, consisting of five minute quarters.
A running clock was used with the exception of the final minute of each period when the clock was stopped for dead ball situations.
Brown County rallied in the final period in notching a 28-24 victory.
MHS led 8-7 after one period, 15-12 at halftime and 24-19 after three quarters.
Taylor Mann topped MHS with nine points. Grace O’Hern sank a pair of 3-pointers to add six points. Lyles also scored six points, followed by Sloan with three points.
The Bombers return to action Feb. 9 heading to Lincoln to face the Railsplitters (17-8).
Macomb, 3-1 in Prairieland Conference South Division play, will wrap up its regular season on Feb. 11 facing Illini West (10-14, 3-0 Prairieland South) in a league contest.
That game will be played at MHS starting at 6 p.m. It will be followed by the varsity boys contest between Illini West and Macomb.
The Bombers are scheduled to find out their postseason path Friday, when state tournament pairings are announced by the Illinois High School Association.
