 Cranking the defensive pressure as high as we have seen all season,
the Railers used a 19-3 run to start the second half, dashing any of
Central's hopes that they would be able to hand Lincoln a loss for
the second time this season. By the time the run was over, Lincoln
held a 37-20 lead, and Railer Nation was already on the phone to
their travel agents, making plans to be in Springfield on Tuesday
night.Once again, it was a great team effort that propelled the
Railers to their 32nd win on the season. However, every situation
needs a leader, and Friday night there was no question that was
senior Max Cook. Cook scored 10 of his game-high 14 points in the
second half, including a critical five to start the second half. He
also corralled 10 rebounds on the night to complete his
double-double.
"I was only able to do what I did tonight thanks to my
teammates," Cook said after the game. "When I was able to drive and
kick it out, they were able to make some shots. The credit goes to
my teammates."
Lincoln coach Neil Alexander was impressed as well. "He (Cook) is
a gamer. I don't like to use that word because if you don't practice
well, you aren't going to be in the game. But tonight he was a
gamer," Alexander said. "He's such a competitor, and he did what he
needed to tonight."
The contest started much like the earlier game between the two,
with Central taking advantage of the Railers' inability to keep the
Maroons off the offensive glass. After Gavin Block put the Railers
on the board by splitting a pair of free throws and then hitting a 3
off a nice look from the inside by Edward Bowlby, Central got their
first points by scoring directly off an offensive rebound to make
the score 4-2 Lincoln. In the first game, there was frustration with
how easily the Maroons controlled the offensive boards. A Tyler
Horchem 3 was answered by two more baskets off the offensive glass,
pulling the Maroons to within one at 7-6.
Keeping Central off the boards was proving to be an issue, and
when Central's Sean Suggs, who scored 22 in their first matchup, hit
a 3 from the left side, Central had their first lead and a streaky
shooter had just hit his first target.
Trailing by two heading into the second quarter, Lincoln tied and
then took the lead. Cook scored off a nice pass from Block and then
quickly converted a steal into two more points to put Lincoln back
up 11-9. More struggles in allowing Central to control the boards
put Lincoln back down at 13-11. Another free throw from Block pulled
the Railers to within one at 13-12.
In the sectional games, although winning by 19 and 17 points, the
Railers did find difficulty in a normal area of strength, the
free-throw line. Friday night, Lincoln was only able to connect on
11 of 19 and, combined with Wednesday's 3 for 7, Lincoln was only a
little over .500 at Mattoon.
A three-point play by Block put Lincoln up 15-13, a lead they
would not relinquish, and when Bowlby followed up with a 3 of his
own, the lead had stretched to five at 18-13. With Lincoln up 18-15
and trying to run down the first-half clock, Block was whistled for
a foul in the lane. While many of the Railer Nation delegates sat in
disbelief, it provided Central (18-11) an opportunity to pull closer
or tie the game. A missed 3 led to the frustration of watching the
Railers watch the ball hit the floor, only to have Central's Noah
Wells grab the loose ball and flip it in from about 15 feet at the
buzzer to shrink the Lincoln lead to just one at 18-17.
When the second half started, it felt as though Cook simply let
his teammates know he was amping it up, and if they wanted to join
him, the more the merrier. All the momentum the Maroons had from the
second-quarter buzzer-beater quickly faded as Cook made a steal and
raced downcourt for a layup. Cook then got one to go down on a drive
and was fouled. After his five-point spurt, Lincoln had pushed out
to a 23-17 lead.
After a 3 from Central's Dom Brize sliced the lead in half, the
green-clad Railers started to look less like Dr. David Banner and
more like the Incredible Hulk. Lincoln's defense stepped up when
needed.
"I thought our defense in the second half was outstanding,"
Alexander said. "I can't say enough of how hard they played."
On offense, Cook was simply a magician. Working his way into the
lane, he was able to make the right pass at the right time,
sometimes even making cross-court passes with pinpoint accuracy.
Cook was able to find Horchem, who hit his second 3 of the night.
Another basket from Block was followed by an Edward Bowlby 3, and
quicker than you could say Railsplitter, the lead had grown to 11 at
the end of the third quarter, 31-20.
The Bowlby 3 also had the honor of tying the state record for 3s
made in a season by one team (286). The current Railers now share
that record with the 2004-2005 Railers and most certainly will break
that record sometime Tuesday night.
Another key stat that needs to be noted is the fantastic job done
by Payton Ebelherr on the boards. The junior came up with one big
rebound after another, on both ends of the court, and finished with
seven rebounds on the night. A number of Lincoln scores were the
result of his work on the glass.
[to top of second column] |
To start the fourth quarter, it was the Cook brothers who
pretty much put the game out of reach. On an out-of-bounds play
from the baseline, Max found Will Cook cutting to the basket,
good enough for a layup. The next four again came from Max Cook,
and Lincoln was now up 37-20.
At the 6:24 mark, coach Alexander took a time out to not only
settle the team down, as it seemed they were playing too fast; it
was also an opportunity for an energy fill-up as Alexander said they
"were gassed."
Back to the defense, through three quarters, the Railer defense
held Suggs to only five points. For someone who scored 22 earlier in
the season, the Lincoln defense knew where he was at all times and
made sure that whenever he got the ball, he would not have an easy
time getting to the basket.
After Central finally got points in the fourth quarter, they had
gone over a full quarter without a score, a long enough period to
leave the final score as only drama. A pair of free throws and
basket from Joey Olden, who once again helped keep the Lincoln
defense in its right place, put Lincoln up 41-22.
Lincoln's last field goal of the night came from Bowlby, who
along with Olden had sneaked behind the Central defense. After the
easy 2, Lincoln's scoring came on free throws from Max Cook, Olden
and Austin Krusz.
As the final buzzer sounded and the Railers had won 47-30, coach
Alexander raised both arms high, extended his index fingers and
pointed across the gym to the Railer fans in attendance. It was his
salute to the fans, an important part of the Railer success.
"The fans were, they were fantastic. The students, I can't say
enough," Alexander said. "But, we're going to need them Tuesday
night because Cahokia will be looking for revenge for their loss to
us."
"I love coaching these kids," Alexander beamed. "Just look at how
much fun they are having. I want them to be rewarded for this
season. Just one more win and we can get something. They deserve
it."
Max Cook had loftier goals: "We just have to win three more games
to be the number one team in the state of Illinois in 3A."
The Railers were led on Friday night by Cook's double-double of
14 points and 10 rebounds, while Block finished with 10 points,
eight rebounds and three assists. Bowlby chipped in with eight ,
while Olden and Horchem each had six. Will Cook scored two, while
Austin Krusz tallied Lincoln's final point of the night.
So, the Railers are now in the Elite Eight and will square off
against Cahokia on Tuesday night. Lincoln defeated the Comanches
49-38 on the final night of the Thanksgiving tournament. In a game
they led by as many as 19 and never trailed, Lincoln was led by
Block's 20 and Bowlby's 12 points.
The ticket information for Tuesday night's game is as follows:
Ticket prices are $8 for everyone and all seats are general
admission. The tickets will go on sale Monday at 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
in the LCHS main office. As usual, any ticket questions or concerns
should be directed to Pat Zurkammer at 732-4131, ext. 226, or
pzurkammer@lchs.k12.il.us.
Congratulations also go out to Lincoln's Bryson Kirby, who
advanced in the 3-point showdown. The freshman made 10 of 15 and
advances to the next round.
___
LINCOLN (47)
M.Cook 6-9 2-5 14, Block 3-11 3-5 10, Bowlby3-8 1-1 8, Olden 1-3
4-4 6, Horchem 2-4 0-0 6, W.Cook 1-2 0-0 2, Krusz 0-0 1-2 1,
Ebelherr 0-2 0-0 0, Conrady 0-0 0-0 0, Perry 0-0 0-0 0, Dunovsky 0-0
0-2 0. Team 16-39 11-19 47. 3-point field goals 4-18 (Horchem 2-4,
Block 1-5, Bowlby 1-5, M.Cook 0-1, W.Cook 0-1, Olden 0-2).
CHAMPAIGN CENTRAL (30)
Suggs 10, Brize 5, Smith 3, Watson 2, Rowan 2, Dee 2, Wells 2,
Beesley 2, Stovall 2. Team 12-45 3-7 30. 3-point field goals 3-22
(Suggs 2, Brize).
LCHS
7-11-13-16 47
Champaign 9-8-3-10
30
[By JEFF BENJAMIN]
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