Anderson Horning’s hot shooting pushes Pontiac to regional championship

By Erich Murphy

Bingo Magic Sports

MANTENO — With sharpshooter Evan Wolfe still sidelined, Pontiac was in need of a long-range threat to help keep its season rolling. One stepped up at a crucial time Friday.

Anderson Horning lines up his 3-point shot during Friday’s regional final game at Manteno. Horning his six 3-pointers and scored 18 points to lead the Indians to a 63-39 victory over PBL. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

Anderson Horning drilled half a dozen 3-pointers to help led the Indians to a 63-39 victory over Paxton-Buckley-Loda and the championship of the Class 2A Manteno Regional.

“I just tried to do what the team needed for the win and we got that done,” Horning said after recording 18 points. “I felt good. Once the first one went in, I knew there were many more to come.”

“It’s good when somebody else steps up,” PTHS senior Cayden Masching added. “He brought a spark to the team and got us going.”

Horning is a defensive standout while his offense has mainly been moving the ball to the primary scorers. On this night, he became one of those scorers.

It started early when he hit a 3-pointer to give the Indians a 5-2 lead. His second trey turned an 11-10 lead to 14-10 just 23 seconds into the second quarter. His other two triples in the second frame helped give PTHS a 29-25 halftime lead.

“Once he was feeling it, we knew we had to keep working the ball to him,” PTHS head coach Matt Starker said. “He did a great job, shooting with confidence.”

Pontiac’s Aden Brummel drives to the lane area during Friday’s regional final at Manteno. Brummel scored 12 points as the Indians won their 19th regional championship. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

A problem with allowing PBL to hang close is what can happen down the stretch. This is when upsets take place. Horning and Aden Brummel, who had a pair of key 3-pointers in the second quarter were instrumental in keeping the Tribe in front.

Where the Indians took charge was on the defensive end in the third period. Horning’s strength is defense, but the Tribe has been a strong defensive unit all season.

This showed in that the third as PTHS outscored the Panthers 16-7. It was the defense that set up some easy baskets to extend the lead.

“We got a couple steals, rebounds and they turned into transition and quick baskets for Amazin (King),” Starker said. “We played pretty good defense and were able to trap.”

King converted a steal into two points, and hauled in a long pass from Ben Melchers for another fast-break score. He added another basket to give the Tribe a 40-30 lead.

“The goal at halftime was to rebound,” Horning said. “We rebounded the ball and had great pressure.

Ben Melchers looks to start a fast break for Pontiac against PBL after grabbing grabbing a rebound. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

Horning added another triple to put PTHS up 43-30. The Indians led 45-32 after three quarters, which seemed to deflate PBL’s hopes.

Brummel’s effort, especially in the second half, was overshadowed, but it wasn’t lost on the senior Horning.

“Aden Brummel had a good game, he stepped up when Cayden went out,” Horning said. “Everyone stepped up and that was good to see.”

Horning hit for 18 points while Brummel and Masching chipped in 12 points apiece as Pontiac improved to 21-8. King added 9 points, Melchers checked in with 5 points, Durham Fenton netted 3 points and Henry DeYoung and Logan Mackinson added 2 points apiece.

"We had a lot of hard work that we put in,” Masching said. “It means a lot that it paid off and we get to play in a sectional.”

Ethan Williams scored 14 points for PBL (15-16).

Pontiac won the Class 2A Manteno Regional championship by virtue of a 63-39 decision over Paxton-Buckley-Loda Friday. The Indians are, front from left, Evan Wolf, Sam Dewald, Cayden Masching, Anderson Horning, Bryce Robison, Ben Melchers and Graham Wolf. In back are AJ DeLong, Amazin King, Aden Brummel, Henry DeYoung, Logan Mackinson, Evinn Tracy, Durham Fenton and Armani Luttrell. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

NOTES: For the first time in school history, the boys’ and girls’ basketball programs won regional titles in the same year. … This was the 19th regional championship for the boys. … Pontiac has had six head coaches in the last 30 years. Five of them, including Starker have won regional titles. … Pontiac advances to the Seneca Sectional and will play March 4 against Yorkville Christian. Game time is 7 p.m. … Pontiac will be hosting the supersectional on March 9.

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