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Thursday, Dec. 19

Ex-LCC staffer to get huge award

[DEC. 19, 2002]  Dale White, former Lincoln Christian College director of resource development, has been named to the silver anniversary team for the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

White was the very first recruit signed by then Illinois State basketball coach Bob Donewald. White had played for Covington, Ind., from 1974-78 and was an Indiana all-star in 1978. He went on to ISU, where he led the Redbirds to 74 wins and two National Invitational Tournament appearances during his career.

After four years with LCCS, White is now the director of public relations and development at the Baby Fold in Normal.

White and 14 other Indiana awardees will be honored in Indianapolis on March 26 during the Hall of Fame's 2003 induction ceremonies.

[Jeff Mayfield]


Alexander wills ISU to first win!

Redbirds roll past Jacksonville 74-50

By Jeff Mayfield

[DEC. 19, 2002]  I have been watching Gregg Alexander play basketball for several years. And usually more closely than the average fan. That’s because Donnie Aeilts and Don Williams crazily let me and Jason Smith help them with their junior high teams. Then, in a move that is still under investigation, Neil Alexander brought me into the Railer camp for a couple of years. I don’t think I brought much to the table, but I sure enjoyed the ride! And it gave me more opportunity to watch the amazing metamorphosis of Gregg as a basketball player.

This is a kid who is NOT the MOST athletic kid in the gym. He may not be the strongest or the quickest player you’ll ever see. But, you will find few players ever that want to win as bad as he does! He led a group of outstanding teammates to the junior high championship game and then a few years later, as a sophomore, led a great group of Railers to the Elite Eight for the first time in nearly 20 years. I haven’t seen a lot of basketball resumes, but I’ve been around long enough to tell you that few players have those kinds of accomplishments in their portfolio. Oh… and he shoots the ball pretty well on occasion, too!

 


[Photo by Tom Seggelke]

In fact, Wednesday night in Normal before 5,121 patrons he was back to his same old pesky self. After he and his Redbirds had struggled through the first few games of the year, they were in a must-win situation. Gregg had that "look" that I have become so accustomed to over the last several years. During the first five minutes of the game I knew by looking at Gregg, he was NOT going to let his team lose on this night.

Alexander finished the night with 15 points and continues to crash the boards as hard as any guard you’ll see. He brought down another five last night. Gregg also continues to warm back up from the perimeter, as he went three-of-four from beyond the arc.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

If those were the only stats you saw on the game, it wouldn’t even be close to describing how Gregg encouraged, motivated and pushed his teammates all night long. After good execution on offense, he would be running back down the court imploring his squad to get a defensive stop. And when they would get one, he’d push for another. Then he started diving on the floor after every loose ball. The hustle, hard work and effort plays began to catch on with the other Redbirds, and the next thing you knew you had a 74-50 blowout on your hands.

This is the kind of effort that, as a fan, I’d like to see out of every player for a full 40 minutes. I’m sure glad that the kid from Lincoln is the role model for basketball the way it should be played -- executing, defending, producing and… willing your team to victory!

[Jeff Mayfield]

[See ISU game report below]


Illinois State gets first win, shuts down Jacksonville

[DEC. 19, 2002]  NORMAL -- Vince Greene finished with 17 points and a career-high 11 assists as Illinois State got the monkey off its back and earned its first win of the season in convincing fashion, 74-50, at Redbird Arena.

Illinois State (1-6) also had Gregg Alexander in double figures. He tallied 15 points, including a three-for-four performance from beyond the arc. Baboucarr Bojang finished with a game-high eight rebounds, while the 'Birds had three other players score eight points each.

The Redbirds were able to get their interior game on the right track, outscoring the Dolphins 36-12 in the paint. The Illinois State defense also played exceptionally well, keeping Jacksonville without a field goal for over seven minutes in the second half.

 


[Photo by Tom Seggelke]

Jacksonville (4-6) was led by James Daniels with a game-high 18 points, coming from six 3-pointers, which tied his career high. Daniels was the only Dolphin in double figures. Kevin Sheppard and Calvin Warner contributed nine points each.

Things looked bleak early on as the Redbirds came out flat, connecting on only two of their first 10 shots from the field and falling behind 12-6. However, Greene's back-to-back jumpers sparked a 10-2 run that helped give the 'Birds their first lead of the game, at 16-14 with 10:39 remaining before halftime.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

Illinois State shot 60 percent (12-for-20) for the remaining 13 minutes of the first half, led by 10 points from Alexander, including two 3-pointers. Greene finished the first half with six assists, and the Redbird defense was able to force 10 Jacksonville turnovers.

The second half was all Illinois State as the Redbirds outscored the Dolphins 39-24, including a 26-6 run, and forced nine turnovers to take their largest lead (30) of the season, at 68-38 with 6:29 remaining in the game.

The Dolphins attempted 31 3-pointers and finished with more made 3-pointers (10) than 2-pointers (eight).

The Redbirds continue their season with another home contest, against Northern Illinois on Saturday, Dec. 21. The game is slated to begin at 2:05 p.m.

[Erica Fricke, assistant director of media relations, Illinois State University]

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Articles from the past week

Wednesday:

  • High school basketball

  • Grigsby tabbed I-AA Performer of the Year by Dopke.com

Tuesday:

  • Some of Illinois' best Special Olympics athletes featured at State Farm Holiday Classic

  • High school basketball

  • Men's basketball pre-game notes: Illinois State vs. Jacksonville University

  • Former Redbird pitcher traded to White Sox

Monday:

  • Mayfield's Mutterings:
    Cook doesn't give a hoot about the Owls
    BC lights up Temple for a double-double
  • Gators at Holiday Splash

  • High school basketball

  • High school wrestling

  • LCC men in Taylor tourney

  • LC men vs. Shawnee

  • LC women vs. Meramac

  • Three LC wrestlers place second

  • Western Kentucky holds off the Redbirds 63-43

  • Bears win! Or do they?

Saturday:

  • High school basketball

  • LC college basketball

  • Ankle problems end Reichle's career

  • Men's basketball pre-game notes
         Illinois State vs. Western Kentucky

Friday:

  • High school basketball

  • High school wrestling

Thursday:

  • LC teams play Florissant Valley

  • Pre-game notes: Illinois vs. Temple


Cook doesn't give a hoot about the Owls

BC lights up Temple for a double-double

By Jeff Mayfield

[DEC. 16, 2002]  There is a beautiful, majestic owl that sometimes roosts in our neighborhood. And when he starts making noise you can hear him plain as day. Saturday he was doing that, and my son started mimicking the bird, "Hoo, hoo." Who? "Cook"… that's who!

Brian Cook continued his domination of non-conference foes by hitting for a double-double Saturday in Illinois' 70-54 win over Temple. All Cook did was to lead all scorers with 25 points. He also led all rebounders with 11 and may have led all vendors in popcorn sales for all we know!

 

The greatest thing about his most recent performances is the leadership he has brought this team. I've read that he isn't a vocal leader and therefore is not doing his job in that capacity. Give me a guy who can score and rebound any day -- that's plenty of leadership for any ship that I'm on!

Now it's time for some of his teammates to step up and share some of the load. It will be interesting to see how many people dive off the Cook wagon when he has a bad game or two. And it will be interesting to see who steps up for Illinois and rescues us on the days Cook can't.

Maybe it will be Dee Brown. Awakened from his first-half slumber, he shook some of the Owls out of their trees for 15 second-half points, and he was the only other Illini in double figures.

 

Illinois only shot a season-low 43 percent. You will read in other outlets how Temple's tough zone confused the Illini. However, IF you've ever been to the United Center, YOU know that it is a difficult place to shoot! IF you don't believe me, ask Michael… and I don't mean Abbott! MJ remarked many times how he missed the friendly rims and bounces of the old Chicago Stadium and was not all that enthralled with the background, rims or any of the UC's nuances for that matter.

On the other hand, we have warned several times right here that we're not sure that this Illini team is shooting the rock as well as past teams have shown. But there's plenty of potential and plenty of time for this Illinois bomb squad to heat up; and we're hoping that they do it at just the right time.

 

The Illini did hold Temple to 29 percent shooting with some pretty good "D," but refer to the above for another factor in their demise! Illinois did convert on an amazing 19-of-21 free throws. Thanks to the entire team for reading about the need to improve in that category right here in the LDN! The Orange and Blue also out-rebounded Temple 38-37.

All it does is get tougher from here on out, as Illinois' next two opponents are Missouri and Memphis. Don't be fooled by MSU's big loss at Columbia… They'll be much tougher in the Pyramid! And Mizzou is so due Saturday… I'd love to see us shut them down again!

 

Railers survive!

And I mean that in EVERY sense of the word. Coach Neil Alexander and his staff have lulled me into a false sense of security. I may be as bad as some of his players in this respect. I know that we'll find a way to win. But you sure had to search long and hard for it Saturday night versus a vastly improved Kankakee ball club.

I've heard of slow starts, but this game may have even taken the cake for the slowest start ever. There were possibly six turnovers on the first seven possessions. We put the "UG" in "ugly!" But somehow Lincoln was only down by a bucket at halftime, thanks to an acrobatical half-court 3 drained by Chris Bunch! That momentum buster may have been enough to turn the tide, as we don't think the Railers trailed the rest of the night.

But they did hang on for their lives. Kankakee kept chipping away, and LCHS kept missing their free throws and took a few ill-advised shots until it was a one-point game. Cory Farmer then hit a big front end of a one-and-one, and his miss bounced around until time ran out as Lincoln found that way to a two-point win, 66-64.

But this is a mark of a special team -- they get outplayed by a team with tremendous athleticism and still find ways to beat you. IF that's not GREAT coaching, then I don't know what is!

The Railers also drubbed Taylorville this weekend, 71-23.

Mount Pulaski chops down another giant

The Hilltoppers keep knocking down giant after giant. After dethroning last year's Class A state champion Pleasant Plains squad, they next tackled No. 15-ranked Riverton. And even though they had a guy go off for 34 points, it wasn't enough. Mount Pulaski ran its record to 7-2 with a 70-59 upset. Next up is a home battle with Clinton tomorrow (Tuesday) night.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

Lady Lynx rolling too

The Lincoln College Lady Lynx are rolling right along. Two more victories this weekend put them at a sparkling 11-3 including a nice 75-50 romp over Meramec.

Angels not as fortunate

The LCC Angels hit another snag in the road, losing to Grinnell 73-49. Former Lady Railer Brittany Robbins continues to lead the way for Lincoln.

 

Lynx, Preachers going through a tough stretch

LC lost a 72-69 squeaker to Rend Lake, and LCC took two losses this weekend at the Taylor University tourney, losing to the hosts 73-52 and to Tri-State University 103-77. But tough competition for both teams now will make them more battle-ready when conference and postseason play gets here.

We commend all of our area coaches for playing such tough schedules!

ISU loses despite Alexander's 18

ISU lost at Western Kentucky 63-43 yesterday. Lincoln's Gregg Alexander led all scorers with 18 points. (Click here for game report.)

Lady Railers lose a heartbreaker

Lincoln's Lady Railers were hoping to get another win under their belts. But they were denied on Saturday afternoon as Quincy won a hard-fought 54-49 overtime contest in Lincoln.

Bears win again

Just when you leave them for dead, the Chicago Bears step up and rise from the dead. The last few weeks all anyone would talk about was how improved the Jets were with Chad Pennington at the helm. But after the Bears won 20-13 Sunday in Champaign, we're not hearing as much talk. Check the incomparable Greg Taylor's story on the game!

Sam White's making some noise

How 'bout the game Sam White of LCHS recently rolled? The senior Railer put up a 289 to go along with another 600-plus series. Sam would like to possibly continue his bowling career at Western Illinois University.

White, who is a student manager for the Railer basketball team, took his accomplishment in stride. He told the LDN that he fully expects to improve and that a perfect 300 game looms on the horizon.

He is a recent addition to the list of some great student managers, including Adam Butts, Stacy Willis, Jamie Graack, Ryan Gleason and Colby Elkins. Not to mention Brian Boyer, a longtime member of the managing crew who always did a good job for the team -- when he wasn't pickin' on coach Aeilts! And what can you say about Jake Sheley? Other than the fact that he has been terribly misguided into supporting that crazy Duke program (do you know how many national titles Self could have won with that kind of talent?), he's been a pretty good manager through the years. He's now taken his managerial act to Illinois Wesleyan, where he's parlayed it into a FREE trip to Hawaii -- definitely a guy following in Greg Taylor's footsteps!

IF YOU were ever a Railer manager for ANY sport and have a story YOU can tell, please contact us here at the LDN. We try to never leave any stone unturned here and appreciate ANYone and EVERYone who has ANYthing to do with our young people! You managers, stat and scoreboard/book people make ALL the games more enjoyable for all of us. THANKS from the LDN for all you do. We do take notice!

 

"FANdamonium"

…has been fun the last two weeks as you amaze us with your answers to the trivia questions! We've got lots to talk about: the Illini, the Railers, the Bears, just to name a few. So, hit the LIVE LDN link or tune your radio to FIX 96.3 FM or your TV to Channel 5 and join Greg and me tonight at 6!

And "Happy Birthday" to the best little local sport I know, who just turned 2 on Sunday. He called me his buddy this week, and therefore he's my player of the week!

[Jeff Mayfield]


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