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Wednesday, Dec. 11

High school basketball

[DEC. 11, 2002] 

Boys

Springfield Southeast def. Lincoln 86-78

Maroa-Forsyth def. Mount Pulaski 41-37

Hartsburg-Emden def. Illini Central 52-49

Girls

At Stanford

Normal West       7   21   31     40

Olympia             16   30   46     60

Olympia:  Floyd 11-2-27, Prager 1-0-2, Logsdon 3-2-8, Hieser 0-2-2, Brand 0-2-2, Crabtree 1-2-4, Canopy 2-0-4, Litwiller 4-1-9, Rich 1-0-2.  Totals:  23-11-60.  Three-pointers:  Floyd 3.

Junior Varsity:  Olympia def. Normal West 52-46.

Others

Lincoln def. Jacksonville 45-39

LCC Preachers vs. MacMurray Highlanders

[DEC. 11, 2002]  The Preachers evened their record at 6-6, losing to MacMurray College 89-77 on Tuesday night.

Lincoln kept the score close through most of the second half, but the Highlanders ended the half with a 15-3 run, putting them up 46-31 at the break.

Coach Randy Kirk said, "Those last few minutes are always important, and they won them tonight."

He said that individually he was pleased with Tim Schultz's contribution. Schultz had five rebounds to go with 18 points. Caleb Edson added 15 and senior Zach Below put in 12.

MacMurray was led by Derek Suttles and Derek James, who had 26 and 25, respectively. Isaiah Davis also added 10. MacMurray is now 2-5.

Lincoln plays two games at Taylor University, Upland, Ind., this weekend, which will close out the first half of the season.

[Aaron Johnson]

LCC women's basketball

[DEC. 11, 2002] 

At Cincinnati Bible College

LCC     32   34     66

CBC     20   25     45

LCC:  Brittany Robbins 6-4-18, Stephanie Urton 0-0-0, Cassie Strange 2-3-7, Christina Wright 5-2-14, Cassie Wertin 1-0-2, Stephanie Williams 2-4-8, Meghan Foster 1-3-5, Emily Bird 2-0-4, Sarah Over 3-2-8.  Totals:  22-18-66.  Three-pointers:  Robbins 2, Wright 2.

Next game:  Dec. 14, 1 p.m., at home against Grinnell College.

By LDN staff

[DEC. 11, 2002]  Freshmen sensation Dee Brown continues to play a little beyond his years, as he once again helped rally his Illini teammates to a tougher-than-advertised win over a scrappy EIU ball club. EIU’s Henry Domercant, one of the top 10 scorers in the nation, erupted for 30 points, but it wasn’t enough to fend off the 6-0 Illini. Brian Cook got things started well for Illinois by tallying 14 of his 21 points in the first half. But the Panthers hung tough as they only trailed 38-32 at the half, thanks to some interesting Illinois possessions just before the intermission.

After the break, Dee Brown must have been restless. He was flying around the court and seemed to get a steal or a basket every time the Illini needed one. He was easily the star of the game. Brown finished the night with a career high of 25 points on five-of-eight shooting from beyond the arc. But his defense and the high energy that he brings are things that won’t show up in this morning’s box score. He and a few other freshmen have a chance to make this a pretty good Illinois team by the end of the year.

Cook’s line was 21 points, six rebounds (leading all Illini players) and two assists, including some other outstanding dishes. Also in double figures for the Orange and Blue was Roger Powell with 16 points.

The Illini out-rebounded EIU 37-30 but committed almost as many turnovers, 17-18, in a very sloppily played game. Illinois shot an abysmal eight-of-20 from the line -- a critical issue that must be addressed. Their 51 percent field goal shooting will have to stay at that high level to offset poor ball handling and free throw limitations.

[to top of second column in this article]

Other Illini stuff

The Illini are off to their best start since the 1995-96 team started the year 9-0.

Brian Cook’s 21 points take him to 1,227 all-time markers and put him in 20th place on the all-time scoring list.

The victory was the eighth consecutive win in the Hall and the 24th consecutive over a non-conference foe.

Illinois has now won both games versus in-state competition and is 6-0 lifetime against Eastern Illinois. In fact, the Illini have won 16 straight games versus in-state opponents since the 1998-99 season.

Illinois is now 30-1 in the Hall under Bill Self.

Next up for Illinois is a tough matchup versus Temple at 11 a.m. Saturday in the United Center in Chicago.

[LDN staff]

Pre-game notes for Redbirds' Portland trip

[DEC. 11, 2002]   The Illinois State women's basketball team is scheduled for a trip to Oregon to play Portland State on Dec. 20 and Portland on Dec. 22.

Click here for pre-game notes (in Adobe Acrobat).

[Click here to download the reader for Adobe Acrobat.]

[Thomas Lamonica,
Illinois State University]

Articles from the past week

By Jeff Mayfield

[DEC. 9, 2002]  As I've said on more than one occasion, this is a fun time of the year. Almost every sport is in action and making a move. Even the ones that aren't are doing something at their winter meetings. Let's examine a few with local implications:

We saw how the young Illini responded to the bright lights of Assembly Hall. But many wondered how the "kiddie korps" would do outside of the friendly confines of Cham-bana. How 'bout a "W" on the wild and wacky road of Arkansas? Illinois prevailed in a squeaker, 62-58, and yes, they didn't finish it or seal it the way we'd all like to see it. However, I've preached through the years this one important point: You get NO extra brownies for ANY style points. Translation: Even the ugliest of wins is better than a pretty loss! Period!

Brian Cook led the way with 18 points and could have had a lot more. He also had four rebounds, four assists and two steals to offset five turnovers.

Illinois was mauled on the boards 36-21 by Arkansas, including a 15-4 shelling on the offensive glass. The Illinois were able to recover some of those lost possessions by forcing the Hogs into 22 turnovers while committing only 15 themselves.

James Augustine had a huge game for the Illini with 10 points and six rebounds. The Illini got to the FT line only nine times but converted seven of them. That, coupled with 50 percent shooting from the field on the day, all contributed to a big Illini road victory. The statement was that the "W" is more important than any other stat!

Folks wondered what complexion this year's Sacred Heart-Griffin team would bear with a new coach with Quincy roots. And said coach didn't act like he was too worried about our vaunted one-two-two ball press and host of prolific perimeter shooters. By his own admission he may have underestimated us just a bit. According to him, it was 10 times better than he thought it would be, as the final outcome attested to a Railer 65-46 win. In fact, a case could be made that this game was over at halftime, with the Railers exploding to a 30-13 lead at the intermission.

Brock Werner continued his outstanding play by firing in 23 points, mostly bombs from way downtown. It's nice to see him have success after he suffered a knee injury that limited him so much last season. He also has shot hundreds of shots in his driveway over the years, and it's nice to see him hit them in prime time for the Railers.

Erik Young continues to be a force in the middle, as he went for 12 and six, and Cory Farmer added 10.

This is a pretty balanced Railer contingent. If they can continue to work hard and not be satisfied by what they've accomplished, it could be very interesting how good this team could be.

Next up for Lincoln will be a true test is they travel to take on the highly ranked and regarded Spartans of Springfield Southeast in a rare Tuesday night affair.

[to top of second column in this article]

LCC showing its muscle

Lincoln Christian College traveled north to participate in the annual Midwest Regional Tipoff. And LCC came away with two wins, while one team wouldn't even show up to play them. Lincoln clipped Moody 65-58 and then drubbed Emmaus 85-42. That takes the record to 6-5 and precedes a tough matchup at MacMurray Tuesday night before a very difficult tourney at Taylor University this weekend.

However, this team has played a brutal schedule and has acquitted themselves well. After the first of the year they will be playing teams on their level, and it could really be "Katie, bar the door!!!"

New coach Jim Jumper told a "FANdamonium" audience a week ago that his kids were ready for all challenges. He was right again! Just look at how his Hilltoppers handled the defending Class A state champions from Pleasant Plains this past weekend, 52-39. How's that for a home opener? The Toppers received nine points from Craig Erlenbush; Brian Clements had 12 points and seven rebounds; and Justin Anderson had 18 points and five rebounds. Friday's game helped take some of the sting off Tuesday's loss at Niantic.

This is a darn good Mount Pulaski team that figures to make a lot of noise in our area this year.

That's right. YOUR Chicago Bears could REALLY help out my Oakland Raiders with a huge win on Monday night! So, I will once again be rooting like crazy for the Bears tonight with no ill will towards coach Wannstedt or the fish. IF you're looking for a GREAT Christmas gift, how 'bout some Bears tickets? Call Tom at 737-7344 for availability.

Get your dialing fingers ready. TONIGHT, we want to hear from you. Call us at 735-3306 with your question or comment. IF by ANY chance you read this column, could you please e-mail me this afternoon at jmayfiel@lccs.edu. I want to get a feel for talk on the Illini, the NFL, the Railers and Toppers, and others… or just "E" to say you read it, and at least it gives you something to laugh at!

See you at 6 tonight on the Lincoln Daily News LIVE link, FIX-FM 96.3 radio or on CITV-5 Lincoln.

Have a great week, everybody!

[Jeff Mayfield]

• "Quick Monday morning mutterings," posted Dec. 2
• "Semple shines but Bears win in OT," posted Nov. 25
• "Illini make it a Champaign double," posted Nov. 25
• More columns...

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