Lincoln takes down the Flaming Hearts 59-46
Payton Cook leads all scorers with 21 points

 

[December 19, 2022]  The Railers hosted Effingham on Saturday afternoon in an Apollo Conference game and while Lincoln managed to lead the game in its entirety, there were a few moments where the Flaming Hearts made it a close contest. But in the end, the Railers won by a final score of 59-46.

Early baskets by Payton Cook and Jake Bivin put Lincoln in front 4-0 in the first quarter. Effingham’s Garrett Wolfe sank a three to get the scoring started for the Flaming Hearts. Trey Schilling then started the party from long range and his two quick threes gave Lincoln a 10-5 advantage. After a three from Aidan Gowin, the Railers were on top 13-8. Andrew Donaldson sank a three for Effingham, the sixth three of the quarter by the team’s combined, and the Lincoln lead was trimmed to 13-11. After a late steal and layup by Ki’on Carson ahead of the first quarter buzzer, Lincoln held a 15-11 lead.

Gowin started the second quarter scoring from beyond the arc. Lincoln’s lead grew to 18-11 until the Flaming Hearts cut it to 18-14. A nice move in the lane by Drew Hayes extended the lead to 20-14. With Cook taking a shot at a long three from the top, he delivered and made the score 23-14. Shortly after, Cook snagged the lob pass from Schilling and poured it in for a 25-16 lead. Carson and Cook completed the scoring for Lincoln in the first half and the Railers had a nice little 29-16 lead.

Wolfe and Donaldson kept with the Flaming Hearts tradition of shooting the long ball and they helped guide their team closer to the Railers in the third quarter. As 2:55 flashed on the clock, the Railers lead was 35-29. Lincoln’s 10-2 run to finish the last couple of minutes in the quarter was made possible by threes from Camden Nelson and Darren Stevens, along with some smooth moves in the lane by Cook and Gowin. Gowin’s offensive rebound and putback just ahead of the buzzer gave the Railers a bit of a cushioned lead with the score 45-31.

In the fourth quarter, the Railers earned a 17 point lead, 50-33 the score, but the Flaming Hearts came racing back in contention. The visitors used an 8-0 run in their best attempt at a comeback against the Railers. The threat was short-lived. Cook and Bivin were able to get buckets in the lane to get the fire started under the Railers again. With Tyler Sasse draining a three in front of the Railers bench just under the 2:00 mark, the lead was now 57-46. Lincoln had no reason to worry after Carson sank two frees late in the game and the Railers ended the Saturday on an early note, winning 59-46 and leaving Coach Alexander plenty of time for an early supper.

Payton Cook led all scorers with 21 points.

Garrett Wolfe led Effingham with 18 points.

The Railers improved to 8-1 overall and 4-1 in the Apollo Conference.

In the JV game, the Railers were victorious with a 52-24 win. Drew Hayes led Lincoln with 12 points. Brady Miller tossed in 10 points for the Railers.

The Railers JV team is 5-0 on the season.

The Railers will host Chatham Glenwood on Tuesday night. The JV game is set for 5:30 p.m. The Varsity game will tip-off at 7:30 p.m.

Varsity scoring

Lincoln 59
Cook 21
Gowin 8
Schilling 6
Bivin 6
Sasse 5
Nelson 4
Carson 4
Stevens 3
Hayes 2

Effingham 46
Wolfe 18
Donaldson 12
Heil 10
Splechter 6

JV scoring

Lincoln 52
Hayes 12
Miller 10
Smith 7
Graue 6
Stevens 6
Horn 4
Komnick 3
Horton 2
Fuiten 2

Effingham 24
Belcher 11
Bockhoen 4
Kellams 3
Jones 3
Phillips 3

[Teena Lowery]