Lincoln Railers Varsity annihilate Springfield 63-33

[November 26, 2018]  The Lincoln Railers annihilated the Springfield Senators Friday night in round two of the Lincoln/Eaton Basketball Tournament. The Railers ran away with a 63-33 victory and improved their season record to 2-0.

Lincoln was led in scoring by Kaden Froebe with 22 points. Froebe also had a team-leading 5 rebounds and 4 steals and was responsible for 3 assists. Froebe was also a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Not a bad night for the 6’2 junior who broke into the starting lineup this season after working hard over the summer.

Friday night Froebe quietly hit 7-for-11 in the paint and he explained his success in the lane after the game. “In the first half they clogged it up with their big guy (Bennie Slater),” said Froebe. “He just stood in the middle and we couldn’t drive the lane. That’s why it was so close in the first half. Then they took him out and he didn’t play much in the second half so they tried to spread the floor and just deny because Jermaine was making jump shots in the first half. So it opened up driving lanes for all of us and they just overplayed so we got by them easily.”

As for his 8-for-8 night from the free throw line, Froebe just smiled and said, “Just one of those nights.”

Froebe’s three assists tied Kameron Whiteman for the team lead versus Springfield. Those passes in particular to 6’10 senior Jermaine Hamlin always end in excitement and Froebe simply explained his connection to Hamlin this way: “It’s hard to miss him. He’s a big dude. I know he’ll be there for that dunk.”

The game

Once again Coach Neil Alexander put the same starting five on his court Friday night versus Springfield and all five made it into the scoring column. Those five are: 5’10 sophomore Dylan Singleton, 6’2 junior Kaden Froebe, 6’3 junior Will Ewald, 6’0 junior Kameron Whiteman and 6’10 senior Jermaine Hamlin.

First quarter

And again it was Froebe starting the scoring off for the Railers versus the Senators. A Froebe layup on the assist from Singleton put Lincoln on top 2-0.

Then it was Hamlin with the 10-foot jumper making it 4-0. Baskets by Bennie Slater and Zaire Harris put Springfield on top 5-4.

But Singleton made sure that didn’t last. The sophomore hit the first three of the night for Lincoln and it was 7-5 Railers.

Harris hit another three for the Senators and the early indication in this one was it would be a back-and-forth close affair. Hamlin put Lincoln back on top with his bucket but Nate Borders hit a three to give the Senators the edge.

Railer Nation decked out in their green for the game did not disappoint with their enthusiasm.

Singleton would rattle off the next five points for Lincoln. It didn’t take long for the speedy sophomore to score on a couple layups and take advantage of an “and one” opportunity. Singleton put Lincoln up 14-11 and the Railers would never relinquish the lead.

Ewald’s three-pointer beat the buzzer to close out the first quarter and put Lincoln in charge 17-11.

Second Quarter

Shane Miller had a layup for Springfield to start the second quarter but a quick two from Landon Hullinger off the bench and the Lincoln lead was intact, 19-15 the score.

Dreyden Pozsgai also came in off the bench for Lincoln and he quickly made an impact. Pozsgai’s one free throw extended the lead but then he tossed the ball into Hamlin for the first dunk of the game. You cannot believe how much Railer Nation loves the sight and sound of the ball going through the rim at the fingertips of Hamlin.

With the Railer lead 22-17, Springfield’s big man, 6’5 sophomore Bennie Slater, thought he would dunk on Hamlin. Not today, young man, not today - Hamlin had what appeared to be a decent block on Slater, but was called for a foul. Slater would sink both free throws and Springfield was edging closer, 22-19 the score.

Enter Noah Funk into the scoring column with his first varsity points of the season. Funk’s three-pointer at the 4:09 mark was just what the Railers needed to extend the lead to 25-19.

The rest of the quarter would see the Railers go 6-for-6 from the free throw line and as the halftime buzzer sounded, the Railers trotted to the locker room with a 31-24 lead. The threat of a back-and-forth close affair was pretty much over.

That's a Railer win over old CS8 foe Springfield High. Here Lincoln's Jermaine Hamlin and Springfield's Bennie Slater offer that peace sign of good game.

Third Quarter

Lincoln’s defensive effort versus Springfield was again outstanding, the Railers stunningly held the Senators to just nine points in the entire second half.

Offensively, Whiteman’s three to lead off the third quarter was just the start of things.

Froebe picked off back-to-back passes by the Senators and he ran downcourt to lay in four more points. Then it was Froebe driving and dishing it off to Hamlin for - you got it - a dunk.

Hamlin’s second dunk of the night gave Lincoln a 38-26 lead.

Froebe was pretty much unstoppable in the third quarter. He had a couple nice buckets driving the lane and leaving his man still looking for the car keys.

Whiteman connected for another three in the third quarter and he appeared to be getting his confidence from beyond the arc back.

Finally to end the third quarter, Froebe offered up another amazing pass to Hamlin and Jermaine delivered with yet another dunk for the Railer fans to enjoy.

At the close of the third quarter Lincoln was up 47-28 and this game was fun!

Fourth Quarter

Springfield got a couple quick buckets to open the fourth quarter, but the Lincoln offense didn’t waste time getting in a rhythm.

Froebe banked one in the lane and the lead was 49-32.

Funk’s drive to the basket extended the lead to 51-33.

The frustrations were building over on the Senators side and a technical was called on Shane Miller and that sent you-know-who to the free throw line. Froebe delivered with two more from the charity stripe and Lincoln’s lead was 57-33.
A drive by Ewald was good at the 4:45 mark and Lincoln was in command 59-33.

While you could stick a fork in the Senators at this time, the Railers weren’t finished. Froebe drove the lane and this time tossed the ball off the glass to a leaping Hamlin who grabbed it and slammed it home for two points. To finish off the Senators, Froebe drove baseline for the layup and it was good.

The final score in this one was settled nearly three minutes before the end of the game. As the starters took a seat, Lincoln was up by 30 points over Springfield, 63-33 and that would be the final score.

Certainly not a back-and-forth close affair at all. Lincoln was impressive in the win and will get a shot at winning the Lincoln/Eaton Basketball Tournament outright as they take on Cahokia tonight at 8 p.m.

Saturday’s games

3:30 p.m. JV (Sophomores) Bartonville Limestone vs. Springfield

5 p.m. JV (Sophomores) Lincoln vs. Cahokia

6:30 p.m. Varsity Bartonville Limestone vs. Springfield

8 p.m. Varsity Lincoln vs. Cahokia


Game Stats

Lincoln 63

Froebe 22
Hamlin 12
Singleton 8
Ewald 7
Whiteman 6
Funk 5
Hullinger 2
Pozsgai 1

Springfield 33

Harris 12
Slater 8
Borders 5
Miller 4
Williams 2
Wallace 2

[pictures and story by Teena Lowery]