Railers take down state-ranked Sacred Heart-Griffin 73-49
Singleton pours in a career-high 38 points

[February 22, 2021]  Dylan Singleton left no doubt on Saturday afternoon in Sacred Heart-Griffin’s Jim Belz Gymnasium ~ the 5’11 senior guard is one of the best point guards in the state of Illinois. With three years Varsity experience under his belt, Singleton can do it all from the point guard position. He pushes the ball up the court, leaving his defenders in the dust. If he can’t get to the basket, he finds somebody that can. His 10-foot jump shot has been fun to watch all season long. He doesn’t mind stepping outside the three-point range every now and then. He just works hard on the court for 32 minutes every game, unless he’s fouling out because his defense is so intense, to say the least. The guy is definitely having a senior season to be remembered.

On Saturday versus the Cyclones, Singleton poured in eight two-point field goals, two three-point baskets and was 16-of-17 from the free throw line for a career-high 38 points as Lincoln won easily 73-49 over Sacred Heart-Griffin.

Lincoln entered the game Saturday with a 4-2 record versus the state-ranked Cyclones, who boasted a 6-1 record. The Cyclones were ranked No. 1 in the state, according to the current IHSA Class 2A AP State Rankings.

After a tough loss Friday night to Mahomet-Seymour, the Railers would come out hungry for a victory in this non-conference matchup in Springfield against a talented Cyclones team that was headed to the state tournament last year.

It would be the visiting Railers who would control possession of the ball to start the game. Both teams started the contest shooting cold. Dylan Singleton’s first couple shot attempts were no good, in fact. Singleton would not add digits in the scoring column until a couple free throws fell under the 6:00 minute mark. The Cyclones tied the game 2-2 before Singleton found Landon Hullinger going back door and Lincoln took the lead, 4-2. The Cyclones were quick to tie 4-4. Singleton put the Railers back on top with two more free shots. Sacred Heart-Griffin would eventually jump on top 8-6 but it would be Brody Whiteman tying the game on the pass under the basket from Singleton. Singleton would put the Railers in front 10-8 on his drive to the lane. Ending the first quarter on a positive note, of course it was Singleton with an easy-looking turnaround jumper just ahead of the buzzer to give Lincoln a 12-8 lead. Singleton had eight points in the first quarter and assisted the other four points, which is pretty much business as usual for the senior.

Hullinger padded the Lincoln lead to start the second quarter. First, Hullinger hit a long three with his defender right in his face. He then connected for two points in the lane and the lead was quickly 17-8 in favor of Lincoln. A three-point play next out of Singleton extended the lead to 20-8. This is a move to watch and learn from, kids. Singleton has it down to perfection ~ when he cannot go right to the basket, he re-adjusts and goes left to the hoop. He then uses that left hand to kiss the ball off the glass for two points, drawing the foul in the process. After spending countless hours practicing free throws, Singleton then tosses the ball through the net and the result is a three-point play that draws a smile from coaches. Singleton kept on driving to the basket in the second quarter and kept stepping to the free throw line. After three consecutive trips to the line, Singleton stretched the Railers lead to 25-10 with 4:44 remaining in the half. Singleton showed off his diverse shooting skills in the second half even more as he drained consecutive threes for Lincoln to extend the lead to 31-12. His putback off the offensive rebound extended the lead to 33-12. His basketball clinic continued when he hit a jump shot off the steal with just under two minutes left in the first half, 35-12 now the score. Singleton had rattled off 18 consecutive points for Lincoln in this second quarter so far. In the midst of Singleton schooling the Cyclones, the black and gold team had just managed to score four points. Frustration was growing for the home team and their crowd. Singleton can take credit for that, too. His tough as nails defense can really take a team out of their game. It all starts with him and trickles down to the rest of the Railers. Before the second quarter came to an end, the Cyclones head coach Tim Allen would receive a technical foul. Singleton stepped to the line to sink those shots and the Lincoln lead was now 39-15. Junior Elijah Pollice ended the second quarter with a three for Lincoln and the halftime score was settled at 42-15.

Singleton scored 20 points in that second quarter and now has 28 points for the game. The feeling is starting to set in this will be a performance to look back on for Railer fans of this era.

The third quarter saw Singleton doing it again. He opened with a spin move in the lane and tossed the ball off the backboard and in for two points and the foul. The and one put him over the 30-point mark for the game. Seconds later it was Singleton to the basket again and now he’s got 33 points. No one from the Cyclones can guard him. The Railers lead over the No. 1 ranked Sacred Heart-Griffin is now 47-17. Offensively, the next run of points was a battle between two players, the Railers Brody Whiteman and the Cyclones Sam Antonacci. Whiteman found his way in the lane for some buckets in the paint that added up to six quick points. Meanwhile, Antonacci made good on a couple threes and a two-point field goal to keep the Cyclones hopes somewhat alive. The Railers lead was still 53-29 at this point. Singleton added another three-point play at the 2:35 mark. Make that 36 points now for the senior. A corner three from Pollice put the Railers up by 30 again, 59-29 the score. Adam Grunder’s bank shot to end the third quarter allowed Lincoln a 61-33 lead.

The fourth quarter saw the Cyclones surge a bit, trying desperately to avoid that running clock. After Hullinger’s three, the Cyclones made a run back at the Railers. The Cyclones drew to within 20 points, 64-44 the score as three minutes remained. Singleton was still in the game running the show for the Railers and he would get another opportunity at the free throw line. His final free throws made at the 2:56 mark gave him 38 points on the afternoon. Lincoln’s lead was still a commanding 66-44 this late in the game. Whiteman and Pollice continued their solid contributions in the fourth quarter. Each had baskets in the lane, with Pollice making good on his own and one. It was nice to see these two juniors stepping up with more confidence and making key plays for the Railers. A layup from Hullinger ended the offense for Lincoln and just like that Lincoln picked up a solid 73-49 win over the Cyclones.

Dylan Singleton finishes the game with a career-high 38 points. Singleton would also have 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals and just 2 fouls. To be precise, he played 31 minutes and 7 seconds on the court. He earned some rest.

Congratulations, Dylan!!

Three other Railers would also score in double-figures: Landon Hullinger (12), Elijah Pollice (11) and Brody Whiteman (10).

Sam Antonacci led the Cyclones with 12 points. Zack Hawkinson tossed in 11 points for Sacred Heart-Griffin.

Lincoln improves to 5-2 overall on the season.

Sacred Heart-Griffin falls to 6-2 overall on the season.

In the JV contest, the Cyclones defeated the Railers 46-42. Payton Cook led Lincoln with 10 points.

Lincoln will host Mattoon tomorrow (Monday) night in a rescheduled game postponed due to weather from an earlier date. The JV will start at 6:00 p.m. The Varsity will start at 7:30 p.m.

For curious Railer fans, Jordan Nelson holds the record for most points scored in a game. Nelson scored 48 points versus Springfield Lanphier on February 4, 2011.

Varsity scoring

Lincoln 73

Singleton 38
Hullinger 12
Pollice 11
Whiteman 10
Grunder 2

Sacred Heart-Griffin 49

Antonacci 12
Hawkinson 11
Bardwell 7
Hamilton 6
Utinske 3
Thompson 2
Lott 2
Green 2
Hartman 2
Schluter 2

JV scoring

Lincoln 42

Cook 10
Nelson 7
Sasse 7
Gowin 6
Bivin 5
Kingsley 4
Schilling 3

Sacred Heart-Griffin 46

Kamgaing 20
Hamilton 14
Stewart 8
Jackson 2
Musgrave 2

[the amazing Ms. Teena Lowery]