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 I’m willing to bet, neither did Springfield Lanphier.
In a packed-to-the-rafters Roy S. Anderson Gymnasium, the number two
Lincoln Railers, dominating in almost every facet of the game,
handed the top-ranked Springfield Lanphier Lions their first loss of
the season, an impressive 57-34 win. The victory not only kept the
Lions from finishing off an unbeaten regular season, it allowed the
Railers to share the conference championship with the Lions. On
Senior Night, it was a junior, Gavin Block, that stole the show as
he dropped a career best 30 points on Lanphier, besting his previous
high of 28, a mark he set in the first matchup between the teams in
Springfield.
A stifling Railer defense, seemingly fueled by the energy in the
gym, forced Lanphier into 24 turnovers which Lincoln converted into
28 points. Except for brief periods in the second and third
quarters, Lanphier could never find any rhythm or flow to their
offense, all thanks to the Lincoln defense. “Our guys played an
outstanding game tonight,” a very pleased Coach Neil Alexander said
after the game. “That’s a great basketball team over there in
Lanphier and if we played ten times we may only win one, but tonight
was our night.”
From the outset, the buzz in the building was off the charts. Even
though it took a few minutes for either team to score, Railer Nation
got the first shot of the night in after Block put Lincoln on the
board. Max Cook stretched the lead to 3-0 with a free throw. In a
game that was called very closely by the officials, both teams
almost reaching the bonus in the first quarter, the Railers suffered
the first casualty of those calls when Edward Bowlby had to head to
the bench with two fouls at the 3:47 mark. Lanphier quickly took
advantage when their man in the middle Scottie Wallace scored on a
shot off the glass to make it 3-2.
Block would score again to start a run for the Railers (28-2, 15-1)
that would eventually stretch out to a 26-6 outburst. Block
continued his hot start with the night’s first three, made possible
after Payton Ebelherr battled for an offensive rebound. Ebelherr
then was rewarded on a drive to the basket and layup, while Joey
Olden turned a steal into points and the Lincoln lead was up to
12-2. The ten point advantage may not seem like much, but in all but
two games this season, the Railers have enjoyed at least a double
digit lead at some point of the contest. The only two they didn’t;
the losses to Lanphier and Champaign Central.
Lanphier’s Larry Austin, Jr. made his first mark of the night when a
Lincoln turnover turned into a two hand jam for the Tennesse-bound
senior. The Railers did not allow this dunk to swing the momentum
the way Austin’s fourth quarter dunk shifted the game in
mid-January. Block scored on a spin move reverse layup while Olden
ended the quarter with a three from the left side and those cheering
for the Railers rose to their feet to applaud Lincoln’s 17-4 lead
after one.
A great deal of credit should go to the Lincoln bench for their
early performance. With Bowlby, Max Cook, and Adam Conrady all
picking up two early fouls, the bench players, including Austin
Krusz, Will Cook, Ebelherr, and Conrady helped to not only maintain
the lead but help in making it grow.
Olden’s three-point show continued as he hit Lincoln’s first two
shots from behind the three-point line to start the second quarter
and extend the margin to 25-6. A jumper and lay-in from Will Cook
gave the Railers the lead at 27-8, while Block ended the run with a
pair of free throws. The charity stripe was a place Block would
become familiar with during the game as he hit 15 of 18 from the
line.
The Lions (25-1, 15-1) finally started showing some life and went on
a 9-0 run, led by the offensive rebounding of Wallace, who finished
with 12 rebounds including 7 on the offensive glass. When sophomore
Xaiver Bishop hit his only three of the night, the Lincoln lead had
been cut to 29-17. Lincoln answered back with a 7-2 spurt of their
own with Block hitting four of six free throws, while Max Cook
delivered a three pointer to help send the Railers into the locker
room with a 36-21 lead.
Even though Lincoln had made a few mistakes, it sure felt as though
they had played as well as they have all season in getting the 15
point lead, holding the Lions to just 32 percent from the floor
while connecting on 55 percent (12 of 22). But there was still 16
minutes left and the number one team in the state is going to be
looking to make a statement as to why they are in the top spot.
After Lanphier scored to open the third quarter to cut the margin to
13, the Railers knew it would not take much in the way of momentum
to put Lanphier back in the game. The Railers went away from what
had been their formula of success over the past few games and
started driving to the basket. For the last six games, Lincoln had
made 10 or more three pointers and with five already in the first
half, it seemed a sure thing that they would reach at least ten. OK,
Railer fans, if I told you before the game that Lincoln did not make
a three pointer in the second half, how would you have felt about
the outcome?
[to top of second column] |
Lincoln took only three from long range in the second half, instead
using ball movement, great cuts, and great interior passing to make
their mark going to the hole. After a pair of free throws from
Block, the junior scored two baskets in a row, the second coming on
a feed from Bowlby who had the ball underneath but found Block
cutting to the basket for the lay-in. Bowlby ended the run with a
layup of his own to put the Railers up 21 at 44-23. After a three
from Lanphier, the unending noise in Roy S. Anderson suddenly
stopped as Block was fouled hard on a drive and did not immediately
get off the court. Getting up with a little hitch in his giddyup,
Block walked off the pain and proceeded to hit a pair of free throws
to put Lincoln on top 46-26.
Lanphier’s final gasp came at the start of the fourth quarter as
they turned up the pressure as high as it had been all night. Austin
scored during a 6-0 run to shave the lead to 14 at 46-32. Austin
finished with only eight points before fouling out, the fifth foul
coming on a double technical between him and Max Cook. Block’s free
throws stopped the run and, after a Lincoln timeout, Olden scored a
layup on a back door play that has worked for the Railers for a long
time. After Olden’s basket, Block scored again, this time Lincoln’s
final field goal of the night, as Block and Max Cook finished out
the scoring from the free throw line to give Lincoln the win 57-34.
Even with the way Lincoln has been playing, the win is not a
surprise, the margin, however, no one saw coming.
“You know I’m always looking for perfection and there were a couple
of areas that need some work,” Alexander said after the game. “I was
concerned about the dribble drive and again, the offensive
rebounding, but our defense is going to give up rebounds. We have
things we can work on.”
Block’s 30 almost bested Lanphier by himself. He was joined in
double figures by Olden with 13. Max Cook finished with six, while
his brother Will added four. Bowlby and Ebelherr each chipped in
with two.
So, when the newest poll comes out on Tuesday, does this mean we
will be cheering on the #1 team in the state? Well, common logic
tells you the answer is yes. However, as highly as the Railers have
been ranked all season, they have yet to receive a first place vote
in the polls. It is possible a team below them may pick up some top
votes and leap frog them. However, if anyone that casts a vote was
in the gym tonight, there is no question which team deserves that
top spot. They’ve earned it and Tuesday night, they should get the
chance to start defending their ranking.
Of course, from Coach Alexander’s perspective that top billing may
be just another distraction that will provide other teams a reason
“to put a thumping on us.” If the Railers continue to play this way,
those other teams may not want what they ask for.
By the time you read this starting Saturday morning, the Railers and
the rest of the teams in 3A will all be starting from scratch as the
regionals begin on Monday. Lincoln has the opportunity to take
advantage of home cooking as they are hosting a regional. Monday’s
matchup pits fourth seeded Mt. Zion against number five seed Decatur
Eisenhower. The winner of that contest will take on the top seeded
Railers on Tuesday night at 7:00pm. Wednesday’s game has Normal
U-High, the second seed and ranked seventh in the state squaring off
with Decatur MacArthur. The regional final will take place at 7:00pm
on Friday night.
Before I go, a special mention to all the seniors that were
recognized Friday night before the game. Whether it be pep band
member, cheerleader, pom squad member, or basketball player, Railer
Nation appreciates your contributions and hopes you realize what it
means to be a Railer and represent Lincoln and the Railer Nation.
This senior class has won 97 varsity basketball games, good to tie
for 11th most in school history. I’m up for seven more, how ‘bout
you?
LINCOLN (57)
Block 7-12 15-18 30, Olden 5-8 0-0 13, M.Cook 1-4 3-5 6, W.Cook 2-3
0-0 4, Bowlby 1-4 0-0 2, Ebelherr 1-4 0-0 2, Horchem 0-1 0-0 0,
Conrady 0-1 0-0 0, Krusz 0-0 0-0 0, Perry 0-0 0-0 0, Dunovsky 0-1
0-2 0. TEAM 17-38 18-25 57. 3-point field goals 5-16 (Olden 3-4,
Block 1-5, M.Cook 1-1, Horchem 0-1, W.Cook 0-1, Ebelherr 0-2, Bowlby
0-2).
LANPHIER (34)
Wallace 10, Bishop 9, Austin 8, Thames 3, Millican 2, Tribbet 2.
TEAM 13 6-8 34. 3-poinf field goals 2 (Bishop, Thames).
LCHS 17-19-10-11 57
LANPHIER 4-17-7-6 34
[By JEFF BENJAMIN] |
