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 “Garrett Aeilts for three…good.”
Aeilts connected ten times from behind the three point line to set a
LCHS single game record for threes made in a game. His 10 of 13
shooting performance propelled him to a career high 32 points as
Lincoln demolished Springfield 83-43. The win ends the pre-Christmas
portion of season for the Railers as they stand 7-2 and 3-1 in
conference. Just like Friday night, Aeilts put Lincoln’s first
points on the board with a three pointer. But no one could have
envisioned where the night would end for the senior.
“I couldn’t have done it without my teammates,” Aeilts said. “We did
a good job running sets and they got me the ball in the offense.”
The ten threes breaks the previous record shared by Jason Osborn,
Brock Werner, and Jordan Nelson (see chart at end of story).
“Garrett has been shooting the ball well in practice lately,” Coach
Neil Alexander said. “He took great shots tonight, taking shots like
in practice, and his teammates found him. He was just…pretty good.”
The win concludes a great weekend for the Railers, scoring a total
of 150 points and beating their opponents by an average of 33.5
points. In the two combined third quarters, the Railers outscored
their opponents 54-11. Yes, Aeilts had one of those nights, but this
was a team win on both ends of the court. On the night, the Railers
shot 64 percent, including 56 percent (15 of 27) from three point
range. While clicking on offense for the second night in a row, the
defense clamped down holding the Senators (2-8, 0-5) to just 28
percent from the floor and forcing 14 turnovers.
The Senators only had one lead on the night and that was thanks to
scoring the game’s first basket. After that, it was a 13-0 Lincoln
run, bookended by threes from Aeilts. KJ Fry added a three and a
pair of free throws, while leading scorer Aron Hopp scored on a lob
pass from Aeilts. Hopp scored later in the quarter in the lane on a
pass from Isaiah Bowers, but the quarter belonged to Aeilts who hit
three more from long range. Aeilts finished the period with 15
points on five three pointers as the Railers dashed out to a 24-10
first quarter lead.
Hopp started the second quarter scoring off a back door pass from
Bryson Kirby. Down 27-10, Springfield showed their one slice of life
during the game, scoring seven in a row, to cut the margin to ten at
27-17. That run was ended with a 3-on-1 break led by Bowers, who
found Aeilts on the right side. Instead of driving to the basket,
Aeilts backed up to drain another three, giving him six at that
point. David Biggs came off the bench and made immediate impact as
Fry found him on the baseline for an easy lay-in. Both teams traded
baskets as the Railers took a 38-22 lead into the half.
In similar fashion to Friday night, the third quarter was all
Railers. The quarter started with Bowers scoring on a drive down the
lane. Proving he is not one-dimensional, Aeilts connected on a pair
of free throws after a technical was whistled on Springfield’s Blain
Keene after he was taunting Drew Bacon by being a bit over
demonstrative while clapping in Bacon’s face. Bacon then jumped in
the scoring column with a strong drive down the lane, using his left
hand while bracing the opponent away with his right shoulder. The
14-0 run was punctuated by two more threes from Aeilts, raising his
total on the night to eight and the Lincoln lead to 52-22.
Springfield went almost half the quarter before getting on the board
with four in a row. A basket from Bacon and another three from Fry
increased the Railer margin to 31 at 56-26. As we mentioned on the
broadcast, the outcome of the game had been decided. The question
was would history be made. That answer would be a resounding ‘yes.’
With 2:04 to go in the third, Aeilts put Lincoln up 60-27 with his
ninth three of the night, tying the previously mentioned Railer
gunners. After a Springfield turnover, Railer Nation came to their
feet as the Railers found an open Aeilts in the right corner. As the
ball arced from his left hand, the shot almost took on a slow-motion
flight. When it finally swished through the basket at the 1:29 mark,
the record was his and the contingent at Roy S. Anderson let him
know about it. “I didn’t know it was the tenth,” Aeilts commented,
“but the crowd let me know it.”
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One by one the starters came off the floor, but the night’s biggest
ovation was saved for number 2. A standing ovation from the crowd
and his teammates greeted him as he left the floor, doing something
no one else that has ever worn a Lincoln uniform has done.
The night’s scoring was wrapped up as Biggs continued his strong
night, tallying six in the fourth quarter. Kirby knocked down a pair
of technical foul shots, while Alex O’Donoghue hit his first two
buckets of the season with strong inside play. How fitting it was
that the night’s final points came on a three-pointer, a top of the
key connection from sophomore Zack Morris, giving the Railers the
40-point win.
In true coaching form, Alexander was happy with the win, but already
looking ahead. “Believe me, we’re not perfect. We’re making too many
turnovers, too many silly mistakes. We will come in Monday and this
game will be forgotten.”
The 32 from Aeilts led the way with Hopp joining him in double
figures with 14. Fry and Biggs added eight points apiece with Kirby
scoring five. Bacon scored four as did O’Donoghue. Nolan Hullinger
and Zack Morris each joined the fun with a three of their own, while
Bowers finished with two.
The Railers will next be in action on Monday, December 28 at they
take part once again in the Collinsville Holiday Tournament, taking
on Fort Zumalt North from Missouri. Lincoln garnered the number two
seed and, if they can perform as they have for the past weekend,
they may be able to make a bit more noise than some expected. The
game is schedule to tip around 2:30.
From me and my family, as well as the LDN family, hope you and yours
have a safe and Merry Christmas!
LINCOLN (83)
Aeilts 10-13 2-2 32, Hopp 6-8 2-2 14, Fry 2-6 2-2 8, Biggs 4-4 0-0
8, Kirby 1-3 2-2 5, Bacon 2-2 0-0 4, O’Donoghue 2-2 0-0 4, Hullinger
1-1 0-0 3, Morris 1-1 0-0 3, Bowers 1-4 0-0 2, Cannon 0-2 0-0 0,
Sloan 0-0 0-0 0, Birnbaum 0-0 0-0 0, Grunder 0-1 0-0 0. TEAM 30-47
8-8 83. 3pt FG 15-27 (Aeilts 10, Fry 2, Hullinger, Kirby, Morris).
Rebounds 26, Assists 22, Turnovers 14.
SPRINGFIELD (43)
Day 19, Nelson 12, Minder 3, Pettis 3, Keene 2, Small 2, Kirk 1,
Hawkins 1. TEAM 13-46 14-21 43. 3pt FG 3-23 (Nelson 2, Day).
Rebounds 29, Assists 6, Turnovers 14.
LCHS 24-14-30-15 83
SPRINGFIELD 10-12-7-14 43
SINGLE GAME HIGHS – THREE POINTERS MADE FOR LCHS
10 – Garrett Aeilts 12/19/2015 vs. Springfield
9 – Jason Osborn 2/28/1996 vs. Rantoul
9 – Brock Werner 11/30/2002 vs. Rantoul
9 – Jordan Nelson 11/26/2010 vs. Morton
9 – Jordan Nelson 12/30/2010 vs. Plainfield South
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