Winning is the objective no matter the opponent.
But for Macomb High boys basketball coach Jeremy Anderson, it is also about opportunity.
Friday’s 59-28 Prairieland Conference South Division win against South Fulton at Astoria High School provided such an opportunity.
The Bombers improved to 18-7 overall, 4-0 in Prairieland South play, while South Fulton dropped to 4-19 overall, 1-3 in division play.
“There’s specific things both offensively and defensively that we want to try and execute, regardless of who we’re playing,” said Anderson. “When you work on it in practice, it’s tough, because the other team knows exactly where you’re going and what you’re doing.”
“This was a great opportunity for guys to get live action reps when the other team doesn’t exactly know the spacing, the timing and the cutting,” he added. “I thought offensively, we did a nice job with that.”
The Bombers dominated the opening eight minutes.
Drew Watson knocked down a pair of 3-pointers as part of an eight-point period, while Carter Havens added a third trey.
Meanwhile Nolan Hoge and Kellen Martin added four points each as the Bombers flew out to a 19-0 lead.
Jasper Lyttaker’s basket 21 seconds into the second quarter finally put the Rebels on the scoreboard.
But the Bombers outscored the Rebels 13-9 the remainder of the frame in taking a 32-11 halftime lead.
The third period saw Watson and Nick Elbe combine for nine of Macomb’s 15 points as the visitors enjoyed a 47-17 lead heading into the final stanza.
Hayden Katz and Cooper Hobson then combined for 10 of Macomb’s 12 points as MHS closed out the win.
For the first time this season, all 10 players dressed for the Bombers finished in the scoring column.
Watson led the way with 17 points, including three treys.
Martin added seven points, followed by Katz and Hobson with six points each.
Collin Adams and Havens added five points each, followed by Hoge and Elbe with four points apiece. Isaac Leibach chipped a 3-pointer and Zacarion Conley two points for the Bombers.
“You love to see everybody get a chance to get a little piece of the pie because of all the hard work they put in at practices throughout the entire season,” said Anderson.
Jackson Miller topped South Fulton with nine points, seven in the second period.
Kylor Clemens and Bryan Parker added five points each, followed by Lyttaker with four.
Cooper Davis had a 3-pointer and Riley Foglesong two points to close out the Rebel scoring.
“Defensively for the most part I thought our habits were really solid,” said Anderson. “But as the game went on, we got a little lackadaisical on some things.”
“We’ve got to be sure we remain focused when we get a big lead,” he added. “How many times in our world have we seen those leads evaporate? We’ve been on both ends of those.”
“You’ve got to make sure that you’re executing on both ends regardless of the score.”
The JV contest saw Macomb hold on late for a 41-39 victory.
The Bombers sank five 3-pointers in the opening quarter, three by Corey Robinson, as the visitors grabbed a 17-12 lead after the first eight minutes.
Both teams scored 10 points in the second period, leaving MHS with a 27-22 halftime lead.
Not much offense was generated in the third frame as the two teams combined for just nine points.
South Fulton posted a 6-3 edge though in closing the deficit to 30-28 entering the last period.
Both teams scored 11 points in the frame as the Bombers held on, thanks in huge part to a pair of late free throws from Cameron Keene that proved to be the decisive points.
Robinson topped Macomb with 20 points, including six 3-pointers.
Luke Chapla was next with eight points, followed by Keene with six points, Kollin Knupp with five and Carter Van Vleet with two.
Clemens and Kalvin Gorsuch topped South Fulton with 14 and 12 points respectively.
Morgan Foglesong scored six points, followed by Westin Chenoweth with four and Bobby Welch with three.
The Bomber varsity returns home Wednesday to face Illini West (20-6, 4-0) in a game to decide the Prairieland South title.
It will be the third meeting of the season between the two teams with each squad having won once.
The game will follow the varsity girls game that will start at 6 p.m.
