High School Boys Basketball
Railers defeat Mattoon 57-37
Hayes records a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds

[January 28, 2023]

Lincoln hosted Mattoon on Friday night and after a slow first quarter, the Railers found a rhythm and went on to defeat the Green Wave 57-37.

Lincoln was down 6-0 to start the game. It would be sophomore Drew Hayes, in the lineup for Payton Cook, with the first Railer basket of the game. After a basket by Aidan Gowin, the Green Wave still held an 8-4 lead. A basket by Hayes in the lane at the buzzer set the first quarter score at 8-6.

Lincoln was able to take a 10-8 lead in the second quarter, after Camden Nelson and Hayes each scored. There was no looking back after that. Another basket by Hayes put the Railers up 18-11 in the quarter. With the Railers swiping the ball left and right from the Green Wave, they were able to maintain the lead, 24-17 the score with just under a minute left in the second quarter. A three by Nelson, just ahead of the halftime buzzer, put the Railers in a good position with a 27-19 lead.

Drew Hayes had 10 points in the first half.

Trey Schilling had two 3s in the third quarter to guide the Railers. Nelson also connected on a long three and the Railers poured on the points. After another bucket by Hayes to end the quarter, the Railers held a 41-22 lead.

Nelson, Gowin and Tyler Sasse all hit threes for Lincoln in the fourth quarter and it was no problem for the Railers to keep a 20-point lead over the Green Wave. After a basket near the end by Frank Sanders, the final score would go on to be 57-37.

Drew Hayes had a terrific game for the Railers. Hayes led the team with 14 points, 11 rebounds, 6 steals and 4 assists.

A good night for the sophomore who was filling in for the injured Payton Cook.

Camden Nelson tossed in 13 points in the win. Aidan Gowin added 11 points.

The Railers improved to 18-4 on the season.

In the JV game, the Railers defeated Mattoon 36-34. Frank Sanders led the team with 12 points.

Lincoln will host Decatur Eisenhower tonight at Roy S. Anderson.

The JV will start at 5 p.m. and the Varsity will start at 6:30 p.m.

Varsity scoring

Lincoln 57

Hayes 14
Nelson 13
Gowin 11
Schilling 8
Sasse 5
Bivin 4
Sanders 2

Mattoon 37

Wetzel 11
Powers 8
Jean 7
Larson 5
Boyer 3
Helms 3

JV scoring

Lincoln 36

Sanders 12
Graue 9
Stevens 9
Smith 3
Horn 3

Mattoon 34

Larson 13
Kimbro 10
Butler 7
Johnson 2
Stewart 2

[Teena Lowery]