Tungate’s late heroics propel
Railers to 55-53 overtime win versus Sacred Heart-Griffin
Alexander on threshold of 1,000 career coaching
victories
[February 07, 2026]
LINCOLN -- Brody Tungate willed the Railer basketball team to
a 55-53 overtime victory against Sacred Heart-Griffin on Friday
night, moving LCHS head coach Neil Alexander to the cusp of 1,000
career victories in the process.
“I’m proud of our guys,” Alexander said after watching his squad
overcome a seven-point third quarter deficit to force overtime and
win on a last-second jumper by Tungate. “That fourth quarter was
something; they really, really got after it.”
Brody Tungate
Tungate’s clutch field goal with seconds left in overtime earned the
victory for the Railers and avenged a 60-46 loss to SH-G in
Lincoln’s fourth game of the season.
By the appearance of how the game started, it looked as if Lincoln
would be able to coast to victory. In the first period, Lincoln
scorched the nets from beyond the arc as the Railers hit five
three-pointers in the frame to take a 17-12 lead heading into the
second quarter.
Tate Aue
The Railers opened the second period scoring just like they did in
the first quarter, as Tate Aue nailed a trey to increase Lincoln’s
lead to 20-12.
LCHS built a double-digit lead at 22-12 before SH-G went on a 9-0
run, the last points of which came on a trey by Jayden Sullivan to
make the score 22-21.
Bryce Vlahovich
Lincoln held on and maintained a 26-22 halftime advantage. Bryce
Vlahovich added to the Railer lead to open the second half with a
basket on a strong drive to the hoop.
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Sullivan continued his long-range scoring in the third quarter, as
he made a trey halfway through the period to knot the score at
32-32, then hit another three-pointer a couple minutes later to give
SH-G a 37-33 the Cyclones took into the fourth quarter.
SH-G extended its lead to seven points at 40-33 when Cam Brinkman
opened the fourth quarter scoring with a three pointer.
Lincoln made it a four-point game before the Cyclones pushed the
lead back to seven when Sullivan hit another trey to give SH-G a
49-42 lead.
But Brody Tungate willed the Railers back into the game, scoring
seven unanswered points to tie the score 49-49 and force an overtime
period.
Tungate opened the scoring in overtime with a basket, but SH-G
answered with a field goal of its own. Tungate gave Lincoln a 53-51
lead on a pair of free throws before Javeon Williams hit a shot in
the lane for the Cyclones to tie the game at 53-53. That set the
stage for the dramatic finish, as Tungate dribbled the ball
downcourt, pausing out in the right wing area, then making a couple
steps toward the basket before elevating to hit the game-winning
jumper.
Lincoln used six for nine shooting from beyond the arc in the first
half to build its early lead. The Railers only made one trey after
the first quarter, but the squad shot 55.6 percent (10 of 18) from
the field in the second half and overtime combined.
Sacred Heart-Griffin, which shot exceptionally well in the first
meeting between these two teams this season back on December 2, shot
48.8 percent from the field (20 for 41).
Tungate led Lincoln with 20 points. Karson Komnick added 14 and Tate
Aue scored 12.
SH-G was led by Sullivan with 20 points. Myles Montgomer tallied 11
for the Cyclones.
The win moves Lincoln’s overall record to 21-6 and 6-3 in the
Central State 8.
The victory also moves Neil Alexander’s career win total as a head
basketball coach to 999.
Sacred Heart-Griffin drops to 10-13 overall and 3-6 in league play.
Coach Alexander will go for Career Win No. 1000 on Saturday night
against Lanphier. Lincoln’s remaining schedule of regular-season
games include:
• Sat 2/7/2026 @ 6:30 PM vs. Lanphier
• Tue 2/10/2026 @ 7 PM @ East Peoria
• Fri 2/13/2026 @ 7 PM @ Springfield Southeast
• Fri 2/20/2026 @ 7 PM vs. Champaign Central
[Loyd Kirby]
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