Lincoln defeats Nokomis 64-27
Former coaches and players recognized in a pre-game ceremony

[February 02, 2020] 

Saturday night at Roy S. Anderson was a night of reminiscing among old friends. The Lincoln Railers basketball program welcomed back former beloved coaches Loren Wallace and John Flowers, and along with them Railer Nation recognized a host of former players who are indeed Railer legends.

Members of the 1979-80 IHSA State Fourth Place Basketball Team were honored at center court along with Head Coach Loren Wallace and Assistant Coach John Flowers. Returning from that memorable team that went 30-3 on the season were: Kevin Seitzer, Willie McCray, Alex Ulrich and Dan Duff.

Members of the 1984 State Playoff Railsplitter Football team also took the court along with their head coach, John Flowers. Those men in attendance who helped to guide the team to a 9-2 record were: Scott Bunner, Keith Klockenga, Matt Garrison, Tom Perry, Justin Thies and Rick Washam.

The Railers also honored Nokomis Coach Steve Kimbro, who is retiring at the end of the school year after a stellar 39-year career coaching the Redskins.

Kimbro, Flowers and Lincoln’s own Neil Alexander were all childhood friends and former high school teammates. As the three men stood at center court, their former players who were in attendance were also invited to take the court. As the men filed down the stands and onto Neil Alexander Court, they were greeted with handshakes and hugs from the men who helped shaped their lives through sports.

It was just a great evening to recognize not just the coaches, but the athletes who created so many memories for the fans of Lincoln Community High School sports.

Moving on to the featured game between Kimbro’s Redskins and Alexander’s Railers, this generation of fans were treated to a matchup creating more Railer memories. This year’s Railer squad won their 20th game on the season Saturday night with a 64-27 victory over Nokomis.

The quickness of this team is undeniable, making points on the fast break a delight to witness, and when this team is on fire from the three-point range, opponents beware.

Saturday night’s tip-off went Nokomis’ way but the ball quickly ended up in the hands of the Railers.

Senior Kaden Froebe was the first to knock down a three.

Fellow senior Kameron Whiteman quickly followed with his first one of the night to make the score 6-0.

After a Froebe bucket off the fast break, Lincoln had rushed out to an 8-0 lead.

The Railers allowed the Redskins a bucket in the lane around the five minute mark but that would be all the Nokomis fans had to cheer about for a long while to come.

Whiteman was feeling it early and he struck from behind the three-point line again to extend the lead to 11-2.

After junior Dylan Singleton decided to stop and shoot a short jumper, the lead was 13-2.

After Froebe picked up two more quick buckets off the steal, the score was 17-2 and Nokomis called a timeout.

The Railers just kept pouring it on. Whiteman’s heave-ho pass downcourt to Froebe resulted in a short pass to senior Will Ewald for the layup.

Lincoln was cruising early with a 19-2 lead.

Make that 22-2 after Whiteman decided to launch one from the top of the key this time. With barely a miss in the quarter, the Railers were on fire.

Singleton’s three with 37.9 seconds left in the first quarter made the score 25-2. Finally, junior Seth Tungate got in on the scoring with a basket and it was 27-2 at the end of the first quarter.

Some of the bench players had already hit the floor for the Railers in the second quarter and they too were making an impact. Junior Adam Grunder’s three extended the lead to an incredible 30-2. The Redskins never picked up their second basket of the game until 5:31 showed on the second quarter clock, making the score 30-4.

The buckets just dropped in so easy for the Railers against Nokomis. It was really a shooting clinic in the first half put on by Lincoln.

Ewald’s corner three put the score at 33-7.

The last couple minutes of the quarter were a little quiet for Lincoln, but it would be Froebe with a two at the buzzer to liven up the crowd. His buzzer-beater settled the halftime score at 35-13.

The second half was pretty much Railer Nation egging on the players to get a dunk or pull the trigger on a three.

Junior Landon Hullinger did receive an alley-oop pass he laid in gently for two points. He’s probably working on his rim-rattling moves today in the driveway hoop at home.

The Railers managed a 30-point lead midway through the third quarter, 46-16 the score after a layup by Ewald. After the dust settled in the third quarter, Lincoln was simply annihilating the Redskins to the tune of 57-23.


The fourth quarter saw something Railer fans are getting accustomed to: a running clock. At the 7:18 mark the Railers had their biggest lead of the game at 38 points. That score was 61-23 after a Grunder layup. The Redskins had very little left at this point while Lincoln just kept pulling guys in off the bench.

Sophomore Trent Koehler would complete the offense for the Railers on this night with a three of his own. Koehler’s trey settled the final score at 64-27.

Kaden Froebe led Lincoln with 15 points. Kameron Whiteman tossed in 14 points for the Railers. Will Ewald hit double-digits with 11 points.

Carter Sabol led Nokomis with 14 points.

The Railers out rebounded the Redskins 26-22.

Lincoln improves to 20-2 on the season.

Lincoln won the JV contest 54-17. Jaylen Conway led the Railers with 12 points. Brody Whiteman contributed 10 points for Lincoln.

Following the Varsity game there was a reception in the cafeteria hosted by the LCHS Boosters. A delicious meal was provided as the fans had even more of an opportunity to visit with players and coaches.

Varsity scoring

Lincoln 64

Froebe 15
K. Whiteman 14
Ewald 11
Singleton 9
Grunder 8
Koehler 3
Hullinger 2
Tungate 2

Nokomis 27

Sabol 14
Johnson 8
Knodle 3
Jophson 2

JV scoring

Lincoln 54

Conway 12
B. Whiteman 10
Graue 6
Koehler 6
Miller 5
Battin 4
Baker 3
Bowman 2

Nokomis 17

Knodle 10
Aumann 7

[Teena Lowery]