2023 Game 23 Recap: Eureka 54, Pittsfield 41
In their successful attempt to win a trophy for a third consecutive tournament, the Eureka Hornets defeated the #4 seeded Pittsfield Saukees 54-41. Two-time defending MVP Tyler Heffren was feeling it in this game. He scored 33 points on 13-of-26 shooting, including 5-for-7 from the free throw line. Eureka scored 36 of their 54 points in the paint and their team field goal percentage swelled to 48.9% as a result.
The Hornets (7-7) were of course led by Heffren’s 33 points. He also tied Zeke Mason for the game-leading nine rebounds. Jack Blunier added eight points on 4-of-5 shooting. Eureka forced just eight turnovers, but they made the most of the opportunity, converting them into 12 points.
Pittsfield will still leave the tournament with one of the best records amongst participating teams at 12-3. Pittsfield’s leading score was shared by Konner Allen and Javan Petty, who both finished with 11 points. Allen also led his team with five rebounds. Connor Sweeting and Ethan Gratton both scored six points off the bench.
Eureka secures the hardware and wins the Consolation Title.
2023 Game 24 Recap: Illini Bluffs 58, Monmouth-Roseville 43
For the first time in the tournament, a team has had four players finish in double figures. The Illini Bluffs Tigers used a balanced attack to secure a 58-43 win over the Titans of Monmouth-Roseville and take home the 5th Place trophy. Bluffs scored an impressive 30 points in the paint and it helped them shoot efficiently to the tune of a 56.1% clip. After a 13-0 start, the Tigers led 19-5 after the 1st quarter and took a 22 point lead into the halftime. The Titans did force the Tigers into more turnovers (16-13) but could not otherwise slow them down.
Illini Bluffs (14-3) had three players score in double digits: Wyatt Hendel (14 points), Hank Alvey (12 points), and Devon White (12 points). Alvey completed his third double-double of the tournament, as he finished with 11 rebounds. In case you wondered…the only game he *didn’t* get a double-double, he finished with nine rebounds. Hendel dished four assists to lead his team. Bluffs’ 30-16 advantage on points in the paint is one of the larger differentials in the tournament this year.
Monmouth-Roseville’s Titans (10-6) received another good game from Darrion Smith (15 points, five rebounds), which included 3-of-4 from beyond the three point arc. Senior Nico Avendano added 10 points. To their credit, the Titans shot 20 points higher (47.6% to 27.3%) in the second half than in the first. Playing four games in this tournament as an unseeded team is a tough thing to accomplish. Especially this year, when the field was absolutely loaded.
Illini Bluffs secures the 5th Place hardware for the fourth time and for the second year in a row.
2023 Game 25 Recap: West Hancock 58, Camp Point Central 46
For the 10th time since 2008, West Hancock co-op takes home hardware from the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament. By a score of 58-46, the Titans secured 3rd Place over the Panthers of Camp Point Central. Fast break points were the difference in this game, a category that West Hancock won 14-0. Of course, shooting 20-for-36 (55.6%) from the floor definitely didn’t hurt the Titans. Even more impressive, the Titans also shot 13-for-24 (54.2%) from beyond the three-point line.
Lewis Siegfried led the Titans of West Hancock with his second 22-point effort of the tournament. He shot 6-for-11 from three-point land. Gage Scott had 11 points and Hunter Froman added 10 points from off the bench. Gavin Grothaus’s five assists led his team and tied for the game-high. Cooper Knowles had four blocks, which was over half of what both teams combined for (seven).
The Central Panthers got 17 points from Gavin Blewett and 11 points from Nick Moore. Drew Paben added nine points and Elijah Genenbacher contributed seven. Genenbacher led his team with five assists and led both teams with three steals. CPC played a clean game of fundamentals, committing only seven turnovers to West Hancock’s 14. But when the Titans won’t miss, what do you do?
West Hancock finishes the tournament in 3rd Place and Central will settle for a hard-earned 4th Place trophy.
Official Basketball Box Score
Camp Pt. Central vs West Hancock
12/30/23 7:50 pm at Macomb, Ill. (Western Hall)
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VISITORS: Camp Pt. Central 10-2
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
21 Blewett, Gavin...... f 8-15 0-0 1-2 2 3 5 3 17 1 0 1 0 32
24 Paben, Drew......... f 3-10 3-5 0-0 0 1 1 5 9 2 1 0 1 31
33 Genenbacher, Elijah. c 3-8 0-0 1-2 4 2 6 0 7 5 1 0 3 31
03 Moore, Nick......... g 4-11 3-8 0-0 1 0 1 0 11 2 2 0 0 32
05 Lohmeyer, Kaiden.... g 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 15
30 Peterson, Cole...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3
32 Niekamp, Kadin...... 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 2 2 1 3 0 1 16
TEAM................ 2 2
Totals.............. 19-45 6-13 2-4 9 8 17 12 46 11 7 1 6 160
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-25 40.0% 2nd Half: 9-20 45.0% Game: 42.2% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 4-6 66.7% 2nd Half: 2-7 28.6% Game: 46.2% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 0-0 0.0% 2nd Half: 2-4 50.0% Game: 50.0% 1,1
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HOME TEAM: West Hancock 12-3
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
14 Grothaus, Gavin..... f 2-4 2-2 2-2 3 3 6 3 8 5 4 1 0 31
20 Scott, Gage......... f 4-6 3-5 0-0 0 4 4 0 11 1 2 0 1 27
05 Siegfried, Lewis.... c 7-14 6-11 2-2 2 1 3 0 22 2 3 0 0 30
12 Hurt, Nolan......... g 1-3 0-1 0-0 0 5 5 2 2 4 1 0 0 18
22 Knowles, Cooper..... g 2-2 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 3 4 1 3 4 0 20
11 Froman, Hunter...... 4-4 2-2 0-1 1 1 2 1 10 0 0 1 0 11
15 Gooding, Nolan...... 0-0 0-0 1-2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 6
23 Barnes, Carter...... 0-3 0-3 0-0 1 3 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 17
TEAM................ 1 1
Totals.............. 20-36 13-24 5-7 8 18 26 9 58 14 14 6 2 160
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-20 50.0% 2nd Half: 10-16 62.5% Game: 55.6% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 7-13 53.8% 2nd Half: 6-11 54.5% Game: 54.2% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 0-0 0.0% 2nd Half: 5-7 71.4% Game: 71.4% 1
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Officials: Jason Danner, Tad Johnson, Robbie Hinkle
Technical fouls: Camp Pt. Central-None. West Hancock-None.
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