2009 tournament field is set
(January 7, 2009) -- Two familiar teams are poised to make a Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament return when the 2009 edition of the tourney begins December 28th.

The Canton Little Giants, who left the tournament after their 2006 appearance, come back after spending the past two years at the Charleston tournament. Canton, who has not been entered in the tournament only five times since 1969, has amassed a 60-51 (.541) M-WHT record. The Little Giants have earned championships three times (1990, 1999, 2002).

Also returning are the Metamora Redbirds. As tournament participants from 1988-2003, Metamora racked up a single tournament championship (1992) while earning a 30-24 (.554) record.

Metamora and Canton replace Kewanee and Knoxville.

Audio replays now available
(January 7, 2009) -- Thanks to our radio partners and StreamingScoreboard.com, audio replays of each tournament game from the 2008 tourney played in Western Hall are available on the results page. It's a great way to relive one of the more memorable three days in tournament history.

Several tournament records set in 2008
(January 7, 2009) -- Two new tournament standards were set by the Pleasant Plains Cardinals during the past Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament. And both records fell thanks to the stingy Cardinal defense which only allowed 85 points through its first three games, setting a new mark. Also, through its four tourney games, Plains only allowed 127 which eclipsed the previous record of 147 set by Abingdon just two seasons ago.

While not an official tournament record category, Macomb's 42 points scored in their championship game win over Pleasant Plains is the fewest points scored by a title game winner. The previous low was set by Pittsfield when they beat Warsaw 43-40 in the 1985 title game.

Macomb wins storybook championship
(December 30, 2008) -- Consider this: A high school basketball coach loses his father just days before a big holiday tournament. The likelihood his team will make it to the final day of the tournament, let alone the title game, is low considering his team is currently playing .500 ball.

As the tournament unfolds, the team wins. And wins. And wins again. Eventually, they find themselves in the championship game.

His opponent? The team for which he spent several years as an assistant coach. The head coach he would face off against was the head coach back in his days of being an assistant.

Ironically, many believed the opponent had little chance to be in the championship game, either.

Is this some sort of a movie?

No, this drama played out this week in Western Hall as the Macomb Bombers head coach Danny Watson watched his team march through to the tournament championship, 42-37 over Pleasant Plains, just days after his father passed away. (MORE -->)