Lady Railers Varsity cannot take down the mighty Rochester Lady Rockets
Rochester dominates and hands Lincoln a 56-32 loss

[January 28, 2017]  The Lincoln and Rochester Varsity girls basketball teams both took a 4-0 CS8 non-city Tournament record into Saturday afternoon’s contest.

Lincoln was anticipating a better rematch than the 57-39 loss they suffered at the hands of the Lady Rockets back on December 1, 2016. Unfortunately for Lincoln the Lady Rockets are noticeably even better than they were two months ago. Rochester now boasts a 21-3 record following the 56-32 win over Lincoln Saturday.

Lincoln was simply outmatched in size as Rochester’s big three are 6’3, 5’11 and 5’10. Each of those players scored in double figures Saturday while Lincoln’s leading scorers, Kaelyn Froebe and Kennedy Lolling were held to just 9 and 5 points respectively.

Lincoln had their hands full from the tip-off when it looked like the opening play was going to be an alley-oop pass into Lyric Boone. Boone was flying through the air and although she didn’t quite make it an alley-oop, she did manage to grab the ball and toss it through the hoop for the opening basket.

As if to set the tone of the afternoon, Lincoln’s first shot attempt rolled in and out of the rim at the other end. In a first quarter filled with a couple missed shots and a few too many turnovers, the Lady Railers finally got on the scoreboard thanks to a steal and pass to Froebe that allowed her to finish the layup ahead of the pack.

With Rochester up 6-2, Kennedy Lolling stole the ball and decided to take it all the way herself to the bucket. Then Froebe hit a three with 3:28 on the clock and Lincoln had their first and only lead of the game 7-6.

Lincoln’s defensive effort over this stretch was great and really had the Rochester offense rattled. But ten seconds after Lincoln took the lead, bodies were colliding and hitting the floor. One by one players recovered and made it back on their feet, however, Morgan Lolling had hit the floor so hard that she didn’t get up for a while. She definitely had her cage rattled and had to make a visit to the trainer on the sidelines.

Rochester took the lead back after Boone hit a field goal and continued on a roll. At the end of one quarter of play the Lady Rockets were in charge 17-9.

Kennedy Lolling’s three to start the second quarter was a positive but Madison Faulkner’s hook shot on the other end showed just how athletic this Rochester team is.

Coach Taylor Richmond put her 6’1 freshman Leah Schneider in the game in the second quarter and as soon as she got the ball she made a nice move to the basket and drew a foul from Angela Perry. Schneider sank her free throws and the score was 19-14.

Just when the Lincoln defense was shutting down the post players on the inside, 5’6 Nicole Robinson caught everyone by surprise when she snuck into the lane and one of the big girls dished it off to her and Robinson made the easy two points.

Froebe and Perry would make the last two buckets to close a low-scoring quarter between the two teams. Lincoln put up seven points and Rochester just six points to maintain a 23-16 lead going into the locker room.

Morgan Lolling’s three a minute into the third quarter would be the closest Lincoln would get to Rochester for the rest of the game.

Boone and the rest of the Lady Rockets really just continued to show how well-disciplined of a team they are the rest of the afternoon. They are just a very athletic group of girls who are quick in their thinking and smart with their passing and patient with their shot selection. Boone may have only scored six points in the third quarter but the way she runs the court and controls the offense really sets the tone for the entire game.

Emma Konczyk is surrounded by Rochester defenders Saturday. 

Thanks to the Rochester offense outscoring Lincoln 20-5 in the third quarter, the Lady Rockets closed out the third quarter with a 43-21 lead.

The Rochester starters went on a 10-4 run in the fourth quarter before Coach J.R. Boudouris removed them for the second string.

Freshman Madelyn Koehler connects for a three in the Varsity game Saturday.

With Rochester’s lead a solid 53-25, Lincoln also put in several bench players. The bright spot here was the combination of Schneider and fellow freshman Madelyn Koehler finishing out the game together and combining for all eleven points scored in the final quarter.

The 56-32 loss was certainly not the outcome Lincoln had hoped for but Rochester is a team that should go deep into the post season and the Lady Railers have no reason to hang their heads.

If anything Lincoln can look at the bright side, Perry, Boone, Faulker, Robinson and Aubrey Magro are all seniors. Also on the bright side, Leah Schneider stepping up and putting up 10 points for Lincoln.

Haley Hicks saves the ball late in the game.

The Lady Railers Varsity posted a 4-1 record for the tournament.

The next game for these ladies is Thursday at Decatur Eisenhower. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Lincoln Varsity 32

Schneider 10
Froebe 9
K. Lolling 5
Lolling 3
Koehler 3
Bossingham 2

Rochester Varsity 56

Perry 14
Boone 12
Faulkner 11
Magro 7
Dulin 5
Robinson 4
Boudouris 3

[Teena Lowery]