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 Using a 19-2 run that started early in third quarter, Lincoln was
able to remain undefeated by knocking off Normal West 59-41.
After a rare Friday off, the Railers played their first game in a
week, and some rust may have showed early on. Lincoln (6-0) gave up
the first four points of the contest, but a couple of 3-pointers
from Jordan Nelson put the Railers up for the first time at 6-4.
However, playing their first home game of the season, the Wildcats
displayed some early fight by taking the lead back at 9-6.
Even though the season is now six games old, the three-point
deficit faced by Lincoln matched their largest deficit of the
season. After a basket and two free throws by Brant Coyne, West
maintained their three-point lead at 13-10.
 Nelson scored the final five points of the quarter on a basket
and three free throws after being fouled on a long-range shot
attempt. Despite not shooting as well as they did for the majority
of the Thanksgiving tournament, Lincoln kept their streak alive of
leading at the end of every quarter so far this season, up 15-13.
The game stayed tight for much of the second quarter. Great teammate
play got the Railers their first two baskets in the second. A
pinpoint alley-oop pass from Nathaniel Smith to Christian Van Hook
got the junior his first two points of the game. On the next Railer
possession, a nice pass in the lane from Van Hook to Smith put
Smitty on the board for the first time and pushed the Lincoln lead
to 19-15.
Coach Brian Cupples' Wildcats continued to play tough, staying as
close as 21-20. An 8-0 run from the Jordans, Gesner and Nelson,
stretched the lead to 29-20. Another 3 from Nelson helped
Lincoln take a 32-24 lead into halftime.
Although Lincoln was up eight at the break, it did not seem as
though everything was going as well as it could have. Lincoln coach Neil
Alexander noted the room for improvement, especially in the first
half. "I don't think we were down, ready to play," Alexander said.
"I don't think this was one of our better efforts."
The third quarter, as has seemingly become a pattern, started as the
Nathaniel Smith Show. The senior, who was a little under the weather
during the contest, scored the first eight points of the half for
Lincoln. Smith's baskets, coming from underneath, were part of the
typical Lincoln run, and about as quick as the quarter had started,
the Railers had jumped up to a 40-27 lead.
 After a Wildcat basket, Nelson scored nine in a row, and the
precarious halftime lead had ballooned to 20 at 49-29. "In the
third quarter," Alexander commented, "I think we stepped up and did
some good things."
Normal West (2-4) battled but could never get a good rhythm going
against the Railer defense. Offensively, the highlight for Lincoln
was a play Railer Nation may have to get used to seeing more and
more. An on-the-mark pass on the alley-oop led to a Van
Hook dunk. The junior continues to impress with his athletic play
and will be relied on more and more to contribute. After some extra
physical play in the fourth quarter, which included an intentional
foul on Normal West, the Railers rounded out an 18-point win, 59-41.
Lincoln was led in scoring on Saturday night by Nelson's 28, all in
the first three quarters. Smith was the other Railer in double
figures with 10, Van Hook scored eight, Gesner added five, while Coyne
scored four, and Austin Kirby and Matt Hays each scored two.
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On paper, the next three games look like they should be wins for
the Railers. It would be easy to look past the opponents, expecting
to head into Collinsville undefeated. Alexander said he had
a postgame message for his squad: "We have to compete against
ourselves for the next three games and get ourselves prepared," the IBCA Hall of Famer said.
Those next three are Rochester on Friday night and then a CS8
back-to-back the following weekend: home against Jacksonville and
then on the road in Taylorville. Unless something completely
unexpected happens, Lincoln should head into the holiday tournament
at 9-0.
As mentioned earlier, Lincoln's next contest is Friday night at
Roy S. Anderson as, for the first time in conference play, the
Rockets of Rochester come for a visit. You'll be able to catch of
recap of Friday's game in Saturday's edition of Lincoln Daily News.
I also want to remind you about my request for pledges for 3s
made by the Railers in December. The money raised will be donated to
the First United Methodist Church Sunday school December and January
mission of Nothing But Nets. If you would like to donate, or have
questions, you can read the
preview that was posted
in the Friday,
Dec. 3, edition of Lincoln Daily News, or contact me directly at
jeffnjoetta@yahoo.com.
 ___
Lincoln (59)
Nelson 8 6-6 28, Smith 5 0-2 10, Van Hook 3 2-2 8, Gesner 2 0-0 5,
Coyne 1 2-2 4, Kirby 0 2-2 2, Hays 1 0-1 2, Olson 0 0-0 0, Krusz 0
0-0 0. Team 20 12-15 59.
3-point field goals 7 (Nelson 6, Gesner). Normal West (41)
Bronke 9, Stewart 7, McGinnis 7, Bohl 7, Ortiz 3, Sery 2, Dones 2,
Monks 2, Seibring 2. Team 14 9-12 41.
3-point field goals 4 (Bronke
2, Ortiz, McGinnis).
Score by quarters: End of first quarter -- LCHS 15, Normal West 13
Halftime -- LCHS 32, Normal West 24
End of third quarter -- LCHS 51, Normal West 31
[By JEFF BENJAMIN]
Jeff Benjamin's Railer basketball articles
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