Railers open 2026 with a 32-23 win
over Eisenhower
[January 07, 2026]
LINCOLN -- After 35 years on the bench as the Railer
basketball coach, it probably wouldn’t shock anyone to learn Neil
Alexander is a creature of habit.
Whether it’s practice organization, game planning, or even having
uniforms ready for the team prior to a game, Coach Alexander has no
doubt developed routines.
So, following his team’s 32-23 victory over Decatur Eisenhower on
Tuesday night, it wasn’t a big surprise for the Railer head coach to
say he dreads the first game following the holiday break.
“I always hate the first game after Christmas,” Alexander said. “The
kids have been on Christmas break and not back into a routine. Our
practices haven’t been very sharp, and it sure showed tonight. But I
think they realize that, and I think they’ll come tomorrow to
sharpen things up.”
The Panthers entered the game with a 3-7 record while Lincoln had a
12-3 mark. On paper, the game seemed to have the makings of a
mismatch and a lopsided win for the Railers. However, the games are
played on the court rather than on paper, and while the final score
indicated LCHS was nine points better than the Panthers, the game
was much closer than the final score indicated.
Karson Komnick
The Railers ran out to a 10-0 lead as Karson Komnick scored the
first five points of the game. Brett Hayes added a field goal and
Tate Aue hit a three-pointer before Eisenhower made a basket with 15
seconds remaining in the opening period to make the score 10-2.
After an Eisenhower basket by Marcus Page, Brody Tungate scored on a
strong drive to the hoop, using a ball fake to deke a Panther
defender away from his path to the basket. Following another
Eisenhower score—this time a basket by Caleb Cliff—Lincoln got
another three-pointer from Aue to push the Railer lead to 15-6. Each
team added two points before intermission to make the halftime score
17-8 in favor of LCHS.
Lincoln only shot 20 percent from beyond the three-point arc in the
first half (three of 15), but the Railers hit all three of their
two-point field goal attempts, giving LCHS a field goal percentage
of 33.3 percent (six of 18). Fortunately for Lincoln, Eisenhower
only shot at a 36.4 percent clip from the field in the first half,
missing all five attempted three pointers.
Komnick took over for Lincoln on the offensive end in the third
period. The 6-foot-3 senior guard scored all 10 points the Railers
tallied in the quarter on five two-point field goals, including two
within a few seconds of one another as he scored, then stole the
ball on defense and took it in for a layup. While Komnick’s scoring
outburst pushed the Railer lead to its largest at 11 points, Ike
generally kept pace in the frame. The Panthers added eight points in
the period to make the score 27-16 heading into the final stanza.
[to top of second column] |
Eisenhower surged in the fourth quarter, scoring the first seven
points to pull within four at 27-23. Ramir Tyus scored a pair of
baskets for the Panthers and Teveris Smith added a trey.
But on the next Eisenhower possession, as the visitors looked to
inch even closer, Lincoln got some timely defense from a pair of
Railers. As Eisenhower maneuvered the ball into the lane with 2:30
remaining in the game, Komnick knocked it loose to thwart the drive
to the basket. Marcus Page picked the ball up for the Panthers and
looked to make a power move to the hoop, but Bryce Vlahovich walled
up and partially blocked Page’s shot before grabbing the rebound.
Lincoln moved the ball downcourt, and eventually scored the final
five points of the game for the 32-23 final margin of victory.
As un-Railer-like as Lincoln’s first half long-range shooting from
the field was, the team struggled even more after intermission. LCHS
missed all five of the three-pointers it attempted in the second
half.
Head Coach Neil Alexander
“We haven’t been in a routine to be able to get the kids in the
shooting guns and getting up a lot of shots,” Alexander said after
the game. “But I think they see tonight what it’s really about.”
Komnick led Lincoln’s offense, scoring 21 of the team’s 32 points in
the game. Aue added six points, Tungate scored three and Hayes added
two.
Eisenhower was led by Tyus and Garryon Henderson with six points
each.
In winning nine of their last 10 games, the Railers’ record improved
to 13-3 overall and 4-1 in the Central State 8 Conference.
Eisenhower dropped to 3-8 overall and 1-3 in the CS8.
The Railers travel to Springfield on Friday for a 7 PM conference
game against Lanphier. Lincoln returns home on Saturday for a 7:30
game against LaSalette Academy from Georgetown, located about 13
miles south of Danville.
[Loyd Kirby]
|
