The Kewanee Boilermakers used a combination of tough, hard-nosed defense and a night of prolific outside shooting Saturday to dispatch the Macomb Bombers, 56-44.
The Boilers were able to sink a few early three-pointers and they connected on a total of 10 threes on the night to help keep Macomb at bay throughout the second half.
The only lead Macomb would have in the game (at 8-6) came compliments of a tip in basket by Malachi Conley.
What followed for the Boilers was a drive and dish from Colson Welgat to Brayden Conley, a steal by Blaise Lewis that resulted in a trey by Braden Clark, a second 3-pointer by Clark and a Clark to Junior Murray assist in the lane to give Kewanee a 16-12 lead.
“I think the first quarter set the tone for us,” said Kewanee Coach Matt Clark. “Our defensive play gave us a great look at how our game plan was going to work and I thought we limited their easy opportunities in the half court,” added Clark. “Our press didn’t create many turnovers but it was effective in slowing down their transition looks.”
Two 3-pointers by Macomb’s Braden Holthaus helped give the Bombers a 14-10 lift in the second quarter and a 26 halftime tie. Welgat and Davontae Jordan each had treys in the quarter for Kewanee.
The Boilers cranked up the defensive pressure in the third quarter and outscored the Bombers, 15-4. “The third quarter was tremendous on the defensive end, limiting Macomb to only 4 points which gave us some much needed separation at 41-30,” noted Clark.
The Boilers also did a good job of containing Macomb’s big man, 6’7″ senior center Ian Case. He scored a bucket in each quarter for a total of eight points.
On the offensive end in the third quarter, Clark zipped a cross court pass to Welgat on the wing for his third trey of the game. Welgat’s fourth long bomb gave the Boilers a 39-28 lead with around a minute left in the quarter. Catrelle Reed added five more points in the frame as Kewanee’s lead grew, 41-30.
A series of plays midway through the fourth quarter helped seal the Kewanee win. Within a two minute span, Clark made a corner three, had a steal and found Lewis open for another 3-pointer and Clark drove the lane to put the Boilers up 51-36.
With four minutes left to play, Macomb was forced to foul. Kewanee made good on four of six free throws. Lewis made three of four free tosses to close out the game.
The Boilers are now 5-3 and Macomb is 6-2 on the season. Kewanee will host IVC on Tuesday. The Riveters start at 5:30 with the varsity game to follow.
Braden Holthaus of Macomb led all scorers with 20 points. Three other players scored eight points each.
The Boilers won using a balanced scoring attack. Three players scored in double figures and nearly a fourth. Clark scored 15, Welgat had 13, Reed 10 and Lewis added eight.
