 When the IHSA decided this fall to reduce travel to its postseason
events, it did so in its usual controversial way. The decision came
down from above that the semifinal and final matches in all
postseason events would all be played in one evening instead of over
a period of several days. As Lincoln received its IHSA regional
assignment to play a semifinal match at 5 p.m. and then turn around
and play the final at approximately 7:15, the inevitable questions
about preparation time arose. How could the winner of the 5 p.m.
match prepare for the later match with less than an hour to do so?
How could the teams that played at 6 p.m. be expected to turn right
around and play for all the marbles after only a 20-minute rest?
After all, it IS "one and done" time for everyone. Wouldn't two "one
and done" matches in one night be too much to impose on any team?
On Saturday night, some of the questions began to be answered as the
matches were actually played. In general, it seemed that the teams
that won thought the new format worked out well. The teams that
lost, especially the championship match losers, thought differently.
Fortunately for the Lincoln Lady Railers, the new format resulted in
a two-win night and a regional championship. The night was twice as
nice as usual.
In the evening's first match, the Braves of Mount Zion were no
match for the Lady Railers. The younger Mount Zion Braves managed
very few earned points in game one. Most of their points came as a
result of Lady Railer errors. The Railers found themselves quickly
ahead by scores of 8-3 and 16-4 as the Braves called timeouts to try
to stop the bleeding. The timeouts were to no avail, and Lincoln
quickly ended game one by a score of 25-9.
An easy game one victory is almost always the worst thing that
can happen to the Lady Railers. Saturday was no exception. Even
though game two started out with Lincoln up 10-4, it was all going
too easy and too well to imagine it would continue. It didn't. After
another Mount Zion timeout, the young Braves stormed back. When
Lincoln was forced to call its first timeout, The Lady Railers held
only a one-point lead at 11-10. The teams battled from there to a
20-20 tie. After coach Howe's second little chat with the Lady
Railers, the final battle began. Mount Zion got three points to
Lincoln's one and the Railers found themselves under the gun at
21-23. Lincoln's cardiac kids then came to life and shut down the
Braves from there. Lincoln scored the last four points to pull out
the match at 25-23.
The Railers then took to the bleachers to join the rest of the
crowd watching the second semifinal match of the evening, between
Urbana High School, ranked second, and Decatur MacArthur High
School, ranked third. The two teams were closely matched and went to
a three-game affair. The match went much longer than the winner had
hoped. In the end, Urbana prevailed 25-19, 21-25 and 25-6. As the
slightly rested Railers took the floor to play a warm-up game of
Pac-Man tag, the just-victorious Urbana grabbed a short rest and
nervously watched the intermission clock to see when their rest time
would expire.
The championship match consisted of the Railers dominating Urbana
in game one and then the two teams holding a knock-down, drag-out
game two that required overtime to decide. On the strength of a
total team effort, in game one the Lady Railers ran the early score
to 8-3 and the midgame score to 12-5 and 15-6. The Railers never
allowed the Tigers to get closer than within six points and cruised
to a 25-16 win. The game showed off the talents of all the Railer
players, including great kills, hard blocks, deep tips in the
corners of the court, tough defense and precise serving. All
together and playing as a team, the Lady Railers looked to be well
on their way to a certain match victory. Then came game two.
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It was rather clear from the start of game two that Urbana had a
different idea about the way the evening should end for all
concerned. While the Railers managed three points, Urbana got seven
by comparison. The Railers fought their way back, and a rare kill by
setter Ashley Bonaparte brought the Railers to within one point at
8-9. Urbana pulled back ahead and kept the Railers at a small point
distance until a brief Railer surge brought the two teams even at
17-17. It was a sign of things to come. In fact it was a sign of six
things to come.
The Railer surge continued and closed in on an apparent victory
at 21-17 only to have a Tiger surge bring the score back to even at
21-21. Not to be outplayed, the Railers got two successive kills and
Urbana was called for an illegal lift, and the end seemed near as
the scoreboard read 24-21, Lincoln.
Urbana again thought differently. The Tigers fought back to a
24-24 tie. There would be five more such ties before the battle was
through, as each team tried to gain the two-point margin necessary
to close out a victory in game two: 25-all, 26-all, 27-all and
28-28. At 28-all, Urbana finally cracked. An in-the-net serve by
Urbana gave the Railers a lead of 29-28. On the next volley an
Urbana hitter sought to hit over the double Railer block and aimed
too high. The hit sailed over the outside back line and the Railer
victory was finally secured. As the red numbers glowed constant on
the scoreboard at 30-28, the Railers and their vocal fans finally
got to celebrate.
Congratulations to the Lady Railers on being the champions we
know they are!
The next challenge facing the Lady Railers comes Thursday night.
All the IHSA format questions will arise once again. In the early
game Chatham will face Springfield High School. SHS defeated SHG for
the second time this season to win its regional. Immediately
following the first semifinal match, Lincoln will face Champaign
Centennial in the second. If Lincoln pulls out the victory, it will
then have a 20-minute rest period before attempting to win the
sectional championship against the winner of game one. How anyone
feels about that format is of little consequence. It is what it is.
The Railers will once again need a total team effort to pull off
these two successive victories. Anything short of that will put the
Railers in the done category.
I am of the personal opinion that the Lady Railer players are far
from ready to be done. What do you think, ladies? Am I right? We'll
be there cheering you on. Bring it once and then bring it twice.
Twice would be nice.
GO, RAILERS!
[By RICK
L. HOBLER]
Respond to the writer at
rhobler@lccs.edu.
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