Holiday Tournament Trail: Day Two

Day one at the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament is in the books. Many blowouts during the first round this season. Here are some notes from Western Hall…

First Session
Abingdon over Hamilton. Low scoring game, despite 18 & 16 points from Nick Andersen and Ryan Thompson, respectively. I expected Hamilton to play Abingdon well, this Cardinal team is much better than the past few years. They could be a big threat in the consolation bracket.

Warsaw/Nauvoo-Colusa over Knoxville. Not even close! Reno Pinkston has the real deal in this team, and could be the team to beat in this tournament. Over the course of the day, I heard many say the Wildcats would have been better off practicing against each other.

Session Two
My 2007 tournament broadcast debut. Unlike the past few years, I have a backup crew at Western Hall. This alleviates much pressure for myself. Monmouth-Roseville dispatched a young Illini Central team. The Cougars are led by a pair of sophomores (Danny Harman & Alex Bradshaw), who saw their first varsity experience on the very same floor a year ago as freshmen. Illini Central could bite some teams this year as they mature at the varsity level. In talking to Coach Chuck Grant, he says his team needs to find some other scoring options besides Ben Gillen (he’s running the point). M-R did so, with Brian Thompson stepping up with 20 points.

Pittsfield over Barry Western. The Saukees took a 19-4 lead after one quarter, but allowed the newly consolidated Western back in, and Pittsfield took this one 43-37. If you would have asked me three weeks ago, I would have said the Saukees would be a top contender for the tournament championship, but after a lopsided loss a couple weeks back to Griggsville-Perry, and an eight-point loss to Carrollton just before the tournament. If I were a betting man, I would have Pittsfield battling it out in the 5th place bracket.

Kewanee over Farmington. The easiest coach to find is sitting on the Boilers bench. The KHS coach stands 7’1″, and I would venture to say he’ll be the tallest man walking Western Hall this week. Tony Ramos went to the University of Iowa on a scholarship from Dr. Tom Davis. That lasted a year as Steve Alford stepped in. Unfortunately, Ramos was gone, and Alford was in. Farmington battled back, but the Boilers and their big man Peter Tanzillo prevailed. Tanzillo scored 16 points, despite playing his first game back from injury. Had a chance to talk to my old buddy Gary Peterson from WKEI in town with the Boilermakers.

Session Three
Macomb over Brown County. The Bombers played an all-around great ball game. Matt Buren had 22 points, 11 rebounds, and electrified the orange clad crowd with a breakaway dunk in the first quarter. Davis Hendrickson was fiesty on both ends of the floor, putting up 15 points, and Ben Pratt, deadly from anywhere on the floor, finished a hot night of shooting with 18 points. Nathan Kunkel and Mark Tracy impressed me with the Hornets. Tracy finished with 21 points.

Lewistown over Illini West. To be honest with you, I expected this to be the best game of the first round. It was just another blow out, with the Indians winning easily. I will say this…the Chargers will be contending for a 2008, 2009, and 2010 Western Holiday Tournament, with a bulk of their talent being freshmen and sophomores.

Pleasant Plains over B-PC/A. Just as advertised, the Cardinals delivered. David Bergschneider made the crowd get excited after a breakaway one hand slam in the first half. The Cardinals are another top team, and face fellow unbeaten Lewistown in the second round.

Random Notes:
Former Wisconsin Badger, and now head coach at Monmouth College Mark Vershaw was in attendance all day long. Flash Flanagan was also in the house. Funniest comment overheard, during the Macomb/Brown County game. Dane Jorgensen (#30) looked to pick up his third foul, but was called on Matt Buren (#32), his second. Bomber coach Danny Watson asked one of the officials if that was right, with the official responding, “Well now they’re even….they both have two (fouls)”.