Railers advance to regional final with comeback win
LINCOLN 51, JACKSONVILLE 39

[March 02, 2017]  Wednesday night marked the six year anniversary of the last time the Lincoln Railers lost their first game in a postseason series. The loss to Morton had a bit more sting seeing as it came as a number one seed and on the home court at Roy S. Anderson Gymnasium. As for this season, at halftime at Lober-Nika Gymnasium, it felt as though March 1st may again not be the best day for the Railers to kick off the postseason. However, a furious charge fueled by an inspired defense let the Railers to a comeback 51-39 win over Jacksonville. The win leaves Lincoln one win shy of another 20-win season, but most importantly sets up a regional championship against Springfield Lanphier on Friday night.

Led by a defense that forced 13 turnovers on the night, the Railers 13-point win came thanks to a more dedicated effort to get the ball inside instead of relying on the three-pointer. Lincoln scored 20 of their 37 second half points in the lane and converted those Crimsons’ turnovers into 16 points sending the fourth-seeded Railers to Friday night where the only thing standing between them and regional title is this year’s conference champion.

“I think the big difference is we picked up our defense,” Lincoln coach Neil Alexander said after the game. “Everybody who played did their part. This was a true team win.”

In the early stages, it was a closely contested matchup with neither team getting away too far. Senior Bryson Kirby hit his first two threes to put Lincoln up 6-3, but Jacksonville sharp shooter Brady Hays tied the game with his first three. Ben Grunder, who led the way with 16 points, gave the Railers an 8-6 lead with a basket down low. It would be a while before Lincoln would enjoy the lead and it would come from an unlikely source. Another three from Hays would catapult Jacksonville into the lead and begin a 12-3 run that would help extend the Crimsons’ advantage to seven. Jacksonville was finding a lot of success sending the ball into the corner and having a cutter move from the wing down the lane. One easy basket after another helped Jacksonville to an 18-11 lead. Led by the senior combo of Hays and Brandon McCombs, each with 8 in the first half, the Crimsons were able to move at will in the lane, keeping the Railers off balance on defense.

The only field goal for the Railers in the quarter was a three from Titus Cannon, while Lincoln rounded out the first half scoring on a free throw from Jermaine Hamblin and a pair from Isaiah Bowers. Lincoln did not have a very good first half and it showed on the stat sheet. The Railers were just 4 of 22 from the field including 3 0f 16 from behind the three-point line. If the Railers were going to go against the season long trend of not coming back from a halftime deficit, only 2-10 when down at the break, changes would have to be made.

The second half started with Grunder putting his stamp on the comeback attempt. After hitting a jumper from the corner, the junior weaved down the baseline and flipped the ball to the goal with an awkward looking left hand shot. When that found the bottom of the basket, the Railers had knotted the game at 18. In the first two minutes of the half, a different Lincoln team had started to impose their will.

For me, I love sports because of how the numbers can sometimes tie things together that you would never think of. In each quarter of the second half, the 5:49 mark provided an opportunity for each team to have that moment that becomes the moment that turned the game. In the third, as a loose rebound was headed out of bounds, the Railers chose to let the ball go ahead and go and take possession. Jacksonville’s McCombs hustled over to attempt to make the save. The ball found its way to Stephen Albers, who also had to save the ball in, doing so to Hays who hit a jumper from the free throw line and was fouled. After completing the three point play, the Crimsons were up 21-18 and scored the game’s next four points to run back out to a seven point lead at 25-18.

During the first half, Lincoln’s leading scorer Bowers was held to just a pair of free throws. The junior seemed to concentrate on firing three pointers but was unable to connect on them. If the Railers were to get back into the game, Lincoln would need Bowers to find success in the lane. Drew Bacon started the comeback on the baseline finding an open Bowers who scored on a lay in and was fouled. The three point play was just before Bowers again drove the lane but his shot was short. However, it looked like a lob over to Cannon who laid it in to cut the deficit to just two. After a Jacksonville free throw, the Railers hit the gas and would not look back.

Grunder scored again to bring Lincoln within one and, getting extended minutes on the night, it was a three from the left corner by sophomore Colton Holliday with 1:54 to go in the quarter that put the Railers up for good at 28-26. “It may have been the biggest play of the night,” Alexander said. “He certainly didn’t hesitate.”

After Holliday’s three, Cannon connected for another three to give the Railers a 31-26 lead going to the fourth. The run continued when Holliday found an opening on the low block. After James White scored his first points of the night on a long three pointer, Kirby answered with a three of his own. Remember the mention of the 5:49 mark in the third quarter? Well, in the fourth, it was Lincoln’s chance to take advantage. After a questionable three second in the lane call cost the Railers a possession, the pressure defense that seemed to be squeezing Jacksonville all night, came up big again. Bowers stepped up after the first pass and ripped the ball away from the Jacksonville ball handler. As Bowers charged down the lane, Albers came from behind and grabbed the Lincoln junior, resulting in an intentional foul. Bowers would make both free throws and Grunder would chip in with a basket off an offensive rebound and the Railer lead had ballooned to 40-31.

Hays tried to keep Jacksonville close, but the senior would watch a pair of juniors combine to help end his season. Grunder scored again in the lane before Bowers came up with a steal and drive downcourt for a layup. Another two free throws from Grunder and basket from Holliday extended the lead to 48-33 and capped off a 30-8 run. Although Jacksonville has some dangerous weapons from behind the line, the Railers had taken their heart during the run. As the final horn sounded, Railer Nation came to its feet as Lincoln guaranteed the season has at least one more game, a showdown with Lanphier.

As much as Lincoln struggled in the first half with shooting, the second half was much better. Thanks in large part to the success found in the lane, the Railers were 14 of 23 in the final sixteen minutes. They also were able to stay close on the rebounding battle, only giving up the edge by one board.

The Railers were led by Grunder’s 16 points, while Bowers, Cannon, and Kirby each had 9. Bowers led the board battle with 8 while Cannon ran the point very well, handing out five assists. Holliday was a key off the bench with seven points while Hambllin added a free throw.

So, on to Friday night. It almost sells itself by just saying Lincoln-Lanphier. Rivals from the start of the Central State Eight to recent battles as the teams occupied the number one and two spots in the state. Let’s not forget the last time these teams played, it was Lanphier that came in as number one, but it was Lincoln that walked out with their hand raised in victory. On Friday night, the winner makes plans for the Effingham sectional while the loser starts planning for next season. It has the possibility of being a classic as it could be a while before these teams take the court together. Both teams and fan bases are very proud and deep down, you know each would love nothing more than to end the season of their opponent. That will be the case Friday night. The Lions have lost three games this season, one of those belonging to the Railers.

Game time on Friday is set for 7:00pm. As on Wednesday night, the doors are scheduled to open at 6:00pm. According to the athletic staff at Lanphier, there is a chance there might be an additional door open for fans but that will not be known until Friday. It goes without saying that this game, this team, this setting deserves a full contingent of Railer Nation at Lober-Nika.

Hope to see you there.

LINCOLN (51)

Grunder 7-12 2-4 16, Bowers 2-12 5-5 9, Cannon 3-5 1-2 9, Kirby 3-9 0-0 9, Holliday 3-4 0-0 7, Hamblin 0-1 1-2 1, Hullinger 0-1 0-0 0, Sloan 0-0 0-0 0, Bacon 0-1 0-0 0, Birnbaum 0-0 0-0 0, Combs 0-0 0-0 0, Morris 0-0 0-0 0. TEAM 18-45 9-13 51. 3pt FG 6-24 (Kirby 3-9, Cannon 2-4, Holliday 1-1, Hullinger 0-1, Grunder 0-3, Bowers 0-6). Rebounds 25 (Bowers 8), Assists 11 (Cannon 5).

JACKSONVILLE (39)

Hays 15, McCombs 14, White 8, Scaman 2. TEAM 12-36 11-13 39. 3pt FG 4-17 (McCombs 2, White 2). Rebounds 26, Assists 7.

LCHS 8-6-17-20 51
JACKSONVILLE 11-7-8-13 39

[Jeff Benjamin]