Game 2: Havana vs. Illini Bluffs (Girl's)

Game 2
Havana vs. Illini Bluffs (Girl's)
Macomb Lady Bomber Classic
(11/15/10)

This was the game I was very interested to see. I have been on the Havana bandwagon since last year's Supersectional. Heck...I've been on Jerry Wilson's Lady Duck bandwagon since game one of the 2009-10 season. Havana has a lot of talent, and a load of postseason experience.



Shelby Burgett from the McDonough Voice arrived, and had mentioned the pre-season Associated Press girl's basketball rankings had just came out, and Havana was ranked third in Class 1A. Honestly, I think that's low. I proclaimed this team to be my #1 team in Class 1A the day after the state finals last winter. Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City gets the preseason nod, after returning everybody from a 4th place finish, while two-time defending state champions Hinckley-Big Rock gets the #2 spot.

Kelly Sears also made his way over, and popped on the microphone for a couple minutes. Coach was my broadcast partner for a few years doing Macomb Bomber basketball, and shared some very "intellectual" conversation on our many road trips.

The Lady Ducks started out a little slow against Illini Bluffs. The Tigers have a sophomore sensation in Taylor McClintock. I heard rave reviews about her last year, as a freshman, and was glad I could see her in person tonight. I did not get to an Illini Bluffs game last year. She finished the game with a hard-fought 18 points, including stepping out and showing some range with three three-pointers. She was also all over the floor, diving after loose balls, and actually knocked out some chairs on her bench while she threw her body out in getting after the basketball.

As usual, the slow start didn't last for Havana. After trailing at one point, 14-4 in the first quarter, they turned around and made a big run at the end of the first quarter, trailing by just two points, 18-16.

Havana had 11 girls see the floor in the first half....and all 11 scored in the first two quarters! The Lady Ducks turned that ten point first quarter deficit into a seven-point lead by the break (36-29).

The state-ranked Ducks kept it up in the second half, winning 60-48. Kelsey Snowden was the only Havana player in double figures, scoring 10 points. Talk about well-balanced scoring! McClintock led Illini Bluffs with 18 points, and Kinze Wall scored 12 points.

Game 2 Miles: 0