Game 41: Monmouth-Roseville vs. Illini West (Boy's Basketball)

Game 41
(12/28/09)
Monmouth-Roseville vs. Illini West (Boy's Basketball)
Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament

With several hours between broadcasts, I took the time to track down holiday tournament scores for the IHSSN Scoreboard. I watched the Pittsfield/BPCA game, in which the #2 seed Saukees held a 42-3 lead at one point. Pittsfield prevailed 53-20 in the end. The next game had Macomb match up with Barry Western. The Bombers were able to control that game from beginning to end. That's when I took to the hospitality room for some dinner.

I feasted on some Buffalo Wild Wings and talked with Steve Hensley. Monmouth-Roseville Principal Jeff Bryan stopped in. We spoke about the Monmouth-Roseville girl's basketball situation, in which the Titans postponed their holiday tournament game, due to a death close to their basketball family that day.

Once finished in the hospitality room, the Lewistown/Brown County game had just begun. I went into the stands to talk with Monmouth-Roseville coach Chuck Grant. Ran into B-PC/A football coach John McCormick and basketball coach Matt Colston. I then went and sat with coach Grant, my 97.7 broadcast partner Jeff Thompson, and principal Bryan. Someone asked me how I thought this Brown County/Lewistown game would turn out, and I said Brown County was a sleeper in the tournament and it should be a pretty good game. I didn't think it would be as good as it would turn out, though.

At halftime, I retreated back to my press row seat. I organized my notes for the final game of the night, that would pit the Titans and Chargers. Lewistown controlled much of this game before our broadcast, but the Hornets were able to keep pace. The game went into overtime, tied at 52-52 with Brown County unable to get a good shot off at the end of regulation. The teams went back and forth in overtime, and were tied at 59-59 with just seconds to go. It looked like we would head to a second overtime, before Mitch Dormire threw up a prayer of a three-pointer, that was such a brick, it bounced off the rim and fell flat through the nets to give the Hornets the game-winner, knocking off the #3 seed Indians.

According to online visitors at www.holidaybasketball.com, this final game of the night should give us the most entertaining game of the day. John Hughs is in his first year at Illini West. He has coached in this area (Northwestern, Roseville, Knoxville, and also Flanagan).

The Chargers jumped out to a 13-5 lead after one quarter, and the Titans looked lost on the floor. Illini West would take a 27-16 lead into the locker room, taking advantage of 13 turnovers by the Titans in the first half. That is right around the per game average of turnovers for Monmouth-Roseville, thus far this season.

Tim Chick entered the game midway through the second quarter and provided a spark, scoring six first half points. Jacob Schmudlach scored 8 points for the Chargers in the first half. Illini West had 12 offensive rebounds, to Monmouth-Roseville's 1 in the first half.

The Chargers led 43-29 after three quarters, and would hold on for the 56-37 victory. Illini West improved to (4-2), while Monmouth-Roseville dropped to (6-4). Illini West outrebounded Monmouth-Roseville 41-22. The Chargers had 14 offensive rebounds, to the Titans 2. Monmouth-Roseville committed 18 turnovers, while the Chargers turned it over 16 times.

Leading the way was Illini West's Jacob Schmudlach, who tallied 17 points, pulled down 7 rebounds, and had 2 steals. Monmouth-Roseville got 9 points from Tim Chick and B.J. Salyers.

The Quest File Notes
Game 41
Date: 12/28/09
Result: Illini West controls Monmouth-Roseville, wins 56-37
Miles: 0