Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament: A Retrospective

Well the three days are over. It can seem long at times, but overall the tournament passes by quickly. I was able to afford much more rest during this year’s tournament. Last year, I broadcasted 14 games from Western Hall (two from the consolation bracket at MHS). This year I called a measley 10 games during the week. Voice was still strong enough to belt out some karaoke following the tournament!

One thing I did miss for the second straight year were the wonderful Chicken Lips from Chicks on the Square. They are a large cut of chicken breaded and drenched in a mild sauce (sauce has a unique taste). If ever in Macomb, I suggest trying one or more. One plate of Lips are sent over each night, and they must sneak them in some hidden back door, because I have yet to see them (and I spent a LOT of time in the hospitality room!).

Speaking of the hospitality room, big kudos once again to Stan Prentice, the Athletic Director at B-PC High School. Stan coordinates the hospitality room, and it gets an A+ in my book. The room is also a great place to watch a game or two with a great balcony view over Western Hall.

As far as tournament play goes, a few surprises. I was very impressed with Lewistown and told many that they should have been a top four seed before the tournament started, I’m just surprised they survived a four overtime game and battled hard in the championship. You could really tell the Indians legs were tiring down the stretch of the title tilt. I’ll offer a little on each team…

Macomb: Very well could have three-peated had Matt Buren been healthy. The Bombers desperately need a quick healthy return.

Pleasant Plains: A couple close losses in this tournament, including a four overtime thriller in day two. This is a VERY strong club and will make lots of noise in the postseason. Don’t let that 6th place finish fool you.

Monmouth-Roseville: Tournament Champions! Titans head coach Chuck Grant was so enthused after the game, he did the WORM at half court!!! Thrilling finish and congratulations to the Titans and tournament MVP Ben Gillen.

Kewanee: This is a talented club, and didn’t get too many calls to go their way in their second round loss to Macomb. You could really tell they were getting frustrated, and those frustrations could very well have cost them that game against Macomb.

Warsaw/Nauvoo-Colusa. What can you say about a team this talented and there are only 13 kids in the ENTIRE system. That’s right…13 from 9-12 combining the two schools. WOW! Could the Wildcats make a cinderella run, ala the late 90′s Nauvoo-Colusa Vikings?

All Tournament Team:
My apologies for a long winded tournament wrap up, but want to finish with the All-Tournament team. It seems every year, there is talk that he should have been on, he shouldn’t, etc. I will say these votes must be turned in by halftime of the title game. Some voters turn them in as they leave which may be earlier than that. I turned my ballot in just before the championship game, and had I kept the ballot until halftime, there may have been a change or two. Here is my ballot for the All-Tournament team and the reason I selected them…

Tourney MVP: Ben Gillen (an obvious choice even BEFORE the trophy! Gillen hands down leads this Titans team, and even if Lewistown had won, it wouldn’t have been fair to pick one Indian as MVP, as there were about three that could have earned it).
Brian Thompson (Monmouth-Roseville). When teams pressured Gillen, Thompson stepped up and led with great defense, and is another scoring option for M-R.
Clayton Hatfill (Lewistown). Senior leader, and he’s been leading since he was a 9th grader. One of the top stat leaders of the tournament.
Brian Flaharty (Lewistown). Had a great tournament, especially in the four overtime game, and against Macomb. I left off Cory Bishop, and had I waited until halftime to turn in my ballot, Bishop probably would have made it.
Luke Bavery (Warsaw/Nauvoo-Colusa). How I choose my team, is picking about 15-20 guys from the program that I think are deserving. From there I look at stats. Bavery and Ben Kearse were two choices for W/N-C, and after looking at stats and watching their final game, I thought Bavery was a better choice.
Jacob Schmudlach (Illini West). Here’s a kid that will probably be on the All-Tourney team in 2008 AND 2009. Just a sophomore, he’s already a seasoned varsity player.
Davis Hendrickson (Macomb). I didn’t feel it was right to put Matt Buren on the team, as he was injured midway throught the Bombers second game. Hendrickson may not have had the stats, but he does all the little things on the floor that lead this team.
David Bergschneider (Pleasant Plains). I believe he was second in scoring in the tournament. A leader for the Cardinals, and a very explosive player.
Evan Baietto (Pleasant Plains). A player that can work it inside, but is a deadly shot from outside the three-point line. This club is better than their sixth place finish.
Nick Andersen (Abingdon). I came away very impressed with Jeremy Anderson’s team, and especially Andersen. I knew coming in this year Abingdon would compete with Lewistown for a Prairieland title, but they could very well make some damage in the postseason. Andersen is an extremely deadly shot from outside and can light up the scoreboard.

And finally…here’s how the All-Tournament team wrapped up…
MVP: Gillen. Team: Thompson, Ben Kearse, Matt Buren, Hatfill, Flaharty, Cory Bishop, Schmudlach, Andersen, Baietto, Bergshneider. There was a tie for the last spot, placing 11 on the team.

Have a Safe & Happy New Year!!!