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 In keeping with the Lincoln connection, the team that calls
themselves "Lincoln Railers 2018" has compiled an 18-2 record this
spring while winning all but one tournament. "We played in a
tournament down by St. Louis and we lost the championship game by
one point," according to one of the assistant coaches, Joel Vinson.
For the most part, this Lincoln team is a rarity among the other
AYBT teams. The Lincoln team is a school basketball team while the
competition they play is usually made up of all-star players from
different schools. Playing all-star competition is certainly not a
problem for this young group. Assistant coach Martin Bowers credits
the success of the group to their longevity. "A lot of the kids in
this group have been together since second grade and the core group
have all been playing together since the fourth grade. They are a
close bunch of guys who have put in a lot of work together over the
years and it is paying off for them now." Head coach Darrin Worth
echoed Bowers' sentiments, "One of the keys to the team's success is
playing together. These boys have played together for years. Another
key is the defense. These boys play hard on defense."
In fact, the boys generally do not give up many points on defense.
At a tournament hosted by Decatur LSA in mid-May the Lincoln team
won two games easily 60-21 and 42-26 on a Saturday afternoon, before
defeating a tough foe, the Champaign Wolverines, 48-41 to round out
their perfect day.
Three wins was all in a day's work for what was just eight guys
rotating in and out that afternoon. Usually the team features ten
guys, but had they had to play much of the spring without big man
Drew Bacon, who was suffering an illness, and Jack Eimer, who was
playing baseball. Even with eight players, this team is tough and oh
so quick.
As is typical with Railer basketball tradition, these guys hustle on
the court, show signs of shooting lights-out from the perimeter, and
even like to get buckets from inside the paint, whether it be from a
quick fast-break or a simple post-up move. Basically these guys got
game and are not afraid to show it.
One player in particular who shows a quickness on the court along
with tremendous knowledge of the game is Titus Cannon. Cannon, who
wears the number of his favorite player, Dwyane Wade, is
lightening-quick on the fast-break and is very consistent with his
layups. Cannon and teammate Tate Sloan make a good combination
handling the ball on offense and shaking up the opponents on
defense.
Both boys seem to have a chemistry on the court and when asked about
what is so special about this team, Cannon offered, "We've just
played together for a long time. We just learned to play together
and we all know what we want to do and we know when to do it. We
just know what to expect from our teammates."
It is evident after watching these guys, along with Isaiah Bowers,
Ben Grunder, Sam Birnbaum, Zach Morris, Eddie Combs and Josh Vinson,
that the team is very comfortable on the court with each other and
plays extremely unselfishly. These guys really have a keen sense of
where each other is on the court at all times. The no-look passes
are the norm and there is not a single guy who is afraid to hit the
boards or hit the floor in every attempt to win. Cannon adds, "It's
fun playing together and winning. We don't care about stats. We all
just want to win."
The guys also happen to be friends off the court and that is a key
to the team's success according to not only Cannon but also teammate
Ben Grunder. "If we are not together on the court we are usually
together off the court somewhere or at someone's house. We are just
hanging out or playing basketball in someone's driveway," says
Grunder.
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Cannon agrees that the team likes to hang out together off the
court. "We even have mini basketball tournaments. A lot of our
friends have mini hoops and we like to play on the eight foot hoops
with a mini basketball," says a smiling Cannon. Sounds like a lot of
dunking could be going down as well. "Yea, a lot of dunking," laughs
Cannon. Of this entire basketball experience Cannon added, "It's
just fun for us."
The kids are not the only ones having fun. Assistant coach Bowers
was all smiles when he said, "It's just so much fun for us coaches.
We enjoy it so much and they make it easy for us. They are the most
fun group I've ever been around."
Bowers also spoke highly of Grunder, calling him the most improved
player of the group.
Grunder, who just turned 15 in April, is working hard on his game
these days. "I am trying to go out to the Rec and get some shots up.
I am working on my jump shots and that's probably the largest part
of the game I need to work on. I am also doing a lot of weight
lifting with Isaiah and trying to get ready for the varsity level,"
says the up and coming Railer who's on the radar as the player to
watch, according to assistant coach Bowers.
Coach Bowers, who is also the father of the very talented and
athletic Isaiah Bowers, had this to offer about Lincoln and Railer
basketball, "Nothing beats Lincoln basketball. It's second to none.
We moved here in April of Isaiah's seventh grade year. Lincoln just
was calling our name. We just fell in love with Lincoln. We came and
visited and we just fell in love with the town and the atmosphere
here. We're never leaving."
Bowers is also in awe of the support that's already been shown to
these young ballplayers by the community. "Railer Nation has been
coming out to these games and that's what is impressive."
Agreed by LDN, but what's also impressive is these young Railers.
The future is indeed looking really good and as Cannon pointed out,
"We just hope we can make it to Peoria."
Final Note: Currently during the month of June the team is playing
summer ball for Coach Neil Alexander. The travel team will start
back up in July with a trip to nationals scheduled for the third
week of July in Bloomington, IL. "If we win the nationals in
Bloomington we would be the first school team to do so at the highly
skilled level," according to assistant coach Bowers. Good luck,
guys!
[For more information see:
American Youth Basketball Tour]
[Teena Lowery] |
