Railers wears down Titans in Tuesday night win
LINCOLN 44, GLENWOOD 31

[February 22, 2017]  A little over five weeks ago, the Lincoln Railers were on the short end of a very, very low scoring game when they lost to the Chatham Glenwood Titans 26-22 in overtime. Fast forward to Tuesday night at Roy S. Anderson Gymnasium where the Railers enjoyed some home cooking as they doubled their earlier output, knocking off the Titans 44-31. Even Lincoln Coach Neil Alexander was keeping his eye on the scoreboard as it related to the earlier contest. “I looked up at the scoreboard with 5:37 to go in the third, and we had 22 points. That’s all we had in overtime down there.”

After a sluggish first half, the Lincoln defense clamped down and Glenwood wore down as the Railers won for only the second time this season when trailing at halftime. Lincoln improved to 18-11 on the season while staying near the top of the Central State Eight at 12-5 while Glenwood continues to struggle this season at 9-20, 4-13 in the CS8. The numbers will show that Lincoln had the advantage in every aspect but until halftime, the game was being played exactly the way Coach Todd Blakeman’s squad wanted.

Early on, the pace was very similar to a typical Lincoln-Glenwood game. However, it was Glenwood that seemed to be playing Lincoln basketball with their offense coming from behind the three point line. Junior Will Hanlon hit the first three threes of the night sending the visitors to an early 9-2 lead. Lincoln’s lack of scoring was certainly not for lack of opportunity. After a steal on Glenwood’s opening possession, the Railers had an easy layup but missed. The Railers were able to track down the rebound but had two more misses on the possession. Chance after chance slipped through Lincoln’s hands. After Isaiah Bowers scored his second basket of the quarter on a drive off an out of bounds play, the deficit was cut to 9-4. The Railers had a chance to draw closer but Bowers did not get a friendly bounce on an out of bound lob play to end the first quarter leaving the game at 10-4.

With Bowers the only offense in the first quarter, the Railers needed others to get involved. It seems very simplistic but the more that score, the better the chances are that the Railers will win. Coming into the game, Lincoln was 15-3 when Lincoln had two or more players in double figures. Hoping to get something from someone else, junior Ben Grunder started a big second quarter as he hit a three from the top of the key. Luke Lehnen stepped past the three point line for Glenwood’s fourth three of the night, but it would be their last.

Lincoln’s defense started coming up big with a steal from Tate Sloan. The junior made a strong drive to the basket, was fouled and made the free throw to pull Lincoln within 15-12. After a Glenwood basket, Bryson Kirby was able to finally get free for his only three of the night. Kirby was the recipient of a defense that was face guarding him and following him all night. Glenwood’s Karson Aherin connected for two straight baskets on drive right to the basket, while Grunder finished a strong quarter with a free throw and field goal leaving the Railers down only one at 19-18.

During the latter stages of the first half, after a few calls had not gone Lincoln’s way, a hustle play that resulted in a recovery by Bowers led Railer Nation come to its feet in appreciation of the effort of all the Railers involved. As Coach Alexander said “it might have been the best play we’ve had all year.”

It was a first half in which both teams made seven field goals but in very different manners. The Railers took 24 shots in the first sixteen minutes while the Titans took only 9, and Glenwood was 4 of 5 from three point range. If you think back to Lincoln’s win over Lanphier when they were 10 of 11, you know how it can look when threes are going down at a great pace.

The second half saw a pair of free throws from Glenwood to move the game back to a three point margin. It would be Glenwood’s last feel good part of the game. It was senior Bryson Kirby who made a play that may go under the radar but kick started Lincoln’s largest run of the night. Kirby, who had been limited in his three point opportunities, took a pass on the left wing and could have easily fired off a contested, off balance three. However, the experienced guard gave one shot fake and took one dribble inside the three point line to hit for two. A forced there may have allowed Glenwood to get a run out and easy basket. On the contrary, Kirby’s basket started an 18-4 run that turned the game toward the home team.

In very atypical Lincoln fashion, the game-altering run was done without the inclusion of any three pointers. In fact, to mirror the first matchup, the Railers were 2 of 18 from behind the line. At the 6:00 minute mark of the third, a basket from Bowers gave Lincoln their first lead of the night at 22-21 and the Railers would not look back for the rest of the night. Baskets from Titus Cannon and a pair down low from Grunder extended the lead to 28-21. Free throws from Aherin slowed the run but could not stop it. Three more free throws from Bowers send the Railers to the fourth up 31-25.

The run continued on baskets from Grunder and Bowers and when Drew Bacon split a pair of free throws, Lincoln had claimed a 36-25 lead early in the fourth. The game’s exclamation point came late when Cannon, on a pass after a steal by Kirby, converted a three point play on a drive to the basket to stretch the game to a 42-29 lead.

Yes, the offense was more on hand tonight, but the defense was the star of the night. Forcing 18 turnovers while limiting the Titans to just 21 shots and outrebounding their opponents, the defense took charge in the second half when needed. “We knew coming in we had to put pressure on them,” Alexander said. “If we come out and play passive like the first game, we could see the same result. Our thought our guys moved really well tonight. It was a good defensive effort.”

The Railers finished hitting 16 of 41 shots while the Titans were 10 of 21. Glenwood’s percentage was better but when you are doubled up in shots, it makes it hard to come away with the win. Grunder led the Railers with 14 points while Bowers joined him in double figures with 11. Cannon added six points with Bacon and Kirby each scoring five. Sloan added three for the victors.

We have now reached the final game of the season. Friday night, the Railers will play host to Southeast. It is Senior Night for all those involved in the Railer basketball experience as well as Fan Appreciation Night after the game. BBQ sandwiches will be available while the fans get a chance to get the autographs from the players after the game. If you’ve been to the games this season, make sure you continue. If you haven’t, make it a point to come out to Roy S. Anderson on Friday night to not only say thanks to the seniors that make Railer basketball not just a game but a happening but to root on the Railers against rival Southeast in the final game of Central State Eight play before the move to the Apollo Conference.

Hope to see you there.

LINCOLN (44)

Grunder 6 1-1 14, Bowers 4 3-4 11, Cannon 2 2-4 6, Kirby 2 0-0 5, Bacon 1 3-4 5, Sloan 1 1-1 3, Hullinger 0 0-0 0, Holliday 0 0-0 0, Morris 0 0-0 0. TEAM 16 10-14 44. 3pt FG 2 (Kirby, Grunder).

GLENWOOD (31)

Hanlon 11, Aherin 6, Burris 6, Vogler 4, Lehnen 3, Bahlmann 1. TEAM 10 7-12 31. 3pt FG 4 (Hanlon 3, Lehnen).


LCHS 4-14-13-13 44
GLENWOOD 10-9-6-6 31

[Jeff Benjamin]