Despite beating Farmington by 49 points 19 days prior, Macomb High girls basketball coach Justin Elbe was taking no chances in Saturday’s rematch at Washington Street Gym.
The Bombers put together a 20-0 run in the first six minutes and were never threatened on the way to cruising to a 74-24 victory.
The game was an Illinois High School Association Class 2A Regional opening- round contest.
Macomb entered the contest as the No. 7 seed, while Farmington was seeded No. 10.
“They were definitely focused and zeroed in from the tip,” said Elbe of the squad.
After Macomb’s Sophie Wilson and Farmington’s Lynsey Shriber traded baskets in the opening minute, it was all Bombers.
A 3-pointer by Aubrey Holthaus at the 6:32 mark opened the floodgates for the hosts.
Reese Watson scored on a follow of a missed shot before Jordan Hines turned a pair of Farmington turnovers into baskets.
That made it 11-2 at the 4:41 mark and forced Farmington coach Donovan Benson to call a timeout.
But the points kept coming for the Bombers.
Dakota Thorman knocked down a 3-pointer. Hines added two more baskets, while Holthaus and Brooklyn Lyles added baskets. That pushed the MHS lead to 22-2 at the 2:27 mark of the opening period.
“We ran a lot of really good things,” said Elbe. “I was really proud of that. We were really efficient.”
Macomb led 26-8 after the opening minutes before following that effort up by scoring 24 points in the second period.
Wilson added a pair of 3s, while Hines added five points. Thormand Destiny Monroe also scored four points as the Bombers rolled to a 50-10 halftime lead.
Farmington had just four baskets and committed 17 turnovers in the first 16 minutes of play.
“We did a really good job with our defense,” said Elbe. “We really were active, even if we weren’t guarding the ball.”
“We were jumping to the ball well. We were moving to the spots we needed to be. We were taking away their drives,” he added. “Anytime you can keep another team out of the paint, usually good things happen.”
Wilson scored nine of Macomb’s 19 points in the third quarter, while Watson added a pair of treys.
MHS led 69-17 entering the final period.
Wilson led four Macomb players in double figures with 21 points, all coming in the first three quarters.
Hines, Thorman and Watson all added 11 points apiece. Holthaus finished with nine points, all coming in the first half.
Monroe finished with six points, followed by Lyles with four. Taylor Mann added a late free throw that closed out the Bomber scoring.
All 13 MHS players dressed for the contest saw game action. The Bombers recorded nine treys.
“When we get on the hardwood, we’re going to play as hard as we can for as long as we can,” said Elbe.
Ella Essex topped Farmington (9-20) with eight points.
Avery Blunier added six points, followed by Shriber and Andree Wright with three points each.
Sophia Anderson and Reese Oldfield rounded out the Farmer scoring with two points apiece.
Macomb improved to 18-11, advancing to Monday’s semifinal at Farmington against No. 2 seed (Chillicothe) IVC (26-5).
“All the teams in the IHSA get the same opportunity,” said Elbe. “That’s what’s great about high school basketball. Everybody gets the same opportunity to win a regional, a sectional or go to the state tournament.”
Monday’s second semifinal at Farmington had No. 3 seed PORTA/A-C Central (24-6) playing No. 6 seed Canton (16-15).
Monday’s winners will play for the Class 2A Regional title Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
The regional champion will advance to sectional play in Macomb.
