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 But, in those first four and a half minutes, it was a deluge of
threes from Lincoln. Down 4-3 early, the Railers held their own
personal three point shooting clinic behind the firepower of Isaiah
Bowers and KJ Fry. The two combined for five threes in a 15-0 run
that forced Ingram to call a timeout with 3:39 left in the first
quarter and the Railers already up 18-4. The game could not have
gotten off to a better start for Lincoln, looking to avenge losses
in the two previous meetings this season.
Whatever Ingram said hit the mark as the Generals slowly started
working their way back into the contest, while the Railers looked to
continue connecting from behind the arc. MacArthur had weathered the
storm and the Lincoln three point shooting would dry up, making only
two more the rest of the game.
Over the next few possessions, the Railers allowed the visitors to
go on a 12-4 run to draw within six at 22-16. Bowers was able to hit
a drive to the basket to slow the run, but too much Keymonta Johnson
kept the Generals within striking distance. As the first quarter
came to a close, the Railers were able to execute well enough to
find a wide open Ben Grunder under the basket to push the Lincoln
lead back to eight at 26-18. For teams that had a halftime score of
21-19 the last time they met, the first eight minutes on Friday were
much more of an offensive show than expected. Unfortunately,
Lincoln’s inability to handle the ball helped in the MacArthur
comeback.
With the Railers turning it over 17 times during the contest, the
Generals were given more than their share of chances and they
started the second quarter taking advantage of the mistakes to go on
a 10-3 run to quickly pull within one at 29-28. Over the next few
trips down the court, Lincoln (12-10, 6-7) was able to hold off the
Generals. Fry scored off an offensive rebound by Grunder and Aron
Hopp scored off a back door pass to put the Railers up 33-30. With
1:44 left in the half, Johnson converted a three point play to knot
the game at 33. The play started a 7-0 run, putting the Generals up
37-33.
In a game that had a number of strange moments, the first half
certainly ended in less than normal manner. As Hopp split two
defenders as time was winding down, Hopp was grabbed around the
waist and an intentional foul was called giving Hopp two free
throws. After Hopp made the first one, the officials determined 1.1
seconds should be placed on the clock and Lincoln given the ball.
Sounded good at the time but the time used to make that
determination may have broken the rhythm of the leading free throw
shooter in the conference. The senior missed the second one, leaving
Lincoln down three at 37-34. The extra time was not enough for the
Railers to draw closer and the halftime deficit remained at three.
The third quarter was more turnovers and the Generals kept the
pressure on Lincoln going on a 10-4 run and extended the lead to
nine at 47-38. “I’m not questioned our effort tonight,” Lincoln
coach Neil Alexander said, “but our decision making has to improve.
We have to get rid of the mistakes.”
As good as the start of the game was, the end of the third quarter
may have been just as bad. A three and free throws from Fry pulled
the Railers within four at 47-43. After an empty possession by
Macarthur, Lincoln had a chance to pull within two. However, another
turnover and loose ball that ended up with the Generals wound up
trickling over to Dallas McClain, who took two dribbles and fired
off a shot just inside half court. As the ball hit the backboard and
banked into the basket, the Generals claimed a seven point lead
going to the fourth, up 50-43.
[to top of second column] |
After a free throw on the opening play of the fourth, a drive from
Hopp pulled Lincoln within six at 51-45. The Railers’ last best
chance came after Randy Thaxton hit a three to put Macarthur (17-6,
9-4) up 54-45. Bowers hit two from the floor, the second a 10-footer
on the baseline from behind the backboard. A steal by Garrett Aeilts
turned into a layup bringing Lincoln within three 54-51. One of the
things the Generals did well was cover up Aeilts and Bryson Kirby,
who were unable to get any good looks from three point range.
Macarthur was able to do the job from the line, finishing 16 of 24
from the line, including 7 for 11 in the fourth quarter. While the
Generals were converting at the line, the Railers could not get any
shots to fall. While they had cut the deficit to three, Macarthur
outscored Lincoln the rest of the way 10-4 to come away with the
64-55 win.
It was another game that Lincoln was close, but too many mistakes at
the wrong time, proved to be costly in the end. “We are just so
close to being a good basketball team,” Alexander said. Free throws
have also been a key to the games this season. In three games with
the Generals, they have shot 57 free throws while the Railers have
had only 12 from the line. Some of the difference is style of play
or having to foul at the end of games, but 45 free throws over three
games seems a bit odd.
Maybe the Generals are just one of those teams that has Lincoln’s
number this year. Three games, three losses. But hold on, believe it
or not, depending on how the IHSA brackets come out in two weeks,
there is actually a chance there could be a fourth and final
meeting.
Only the starters scored for the Railers with Bowers leading with 20
points as Hopp and Fry each added 13 points. Grunder scored five
with Aeilts chipping in with four.
Lincoln gets a chance to get back in the win column quickly as
Aurora Central Catholic comes to Roy S. Anderson Gymnasium on
Saturday night. The sophomores, who fell on Friday night 51-47, will
tip off at 5 with the varsity scheduled to go at 6:30pm.
LINCOLN (55)
Bowers 8 0-0 20, Hopp 6 1-2 13, Fry 4 2-2 13, Grunder 2 0-0 5,
Aeilts 2 0-0 4, Kirby 0 0-0 0, Bacon 0 0-0 0. TEAM 22 3-4 55. 3pt FG
8 (Bowers 4, Fry 3, Grunder).
MACARTHUR (64)
Johnson 20, Ar.Brummett 15, Smith 8, Thaxton 8, Am.Brummett 8,
McClain 5. TEAM 21 16-24 64. 3pt FG 6 (Thaxton 2, Am.Brummett 2,
McClain, Ar.Brummett).
LCHS 26-8-9-12 55
MACARTHUR 18-19-13-14 64
[Jeff Benjamin] |
