Railers survive another late-game scare defeating Rock Island in OT 46-44

[February 03, 2019] 

The 2018-19 Lincoln Railers are an unbelievably exciting team to watch. After Friday night's 51-50 win over Mattoon, Lincoln returned home on Saturday night to host Rock Island.

This one had fans once again on the edge of their seats as the red and green needed an extra four minutes in overtime to settle this battle with the Rocks. In the end, Railer fans left Roy S. Anderson Gymnasium relieved with a 46-44 win.

You see, with the game tied 44-44 in regulation, Lincoln's Dylan Singleton was fouled and landed a trip to the free throw line with 1.3 seconds remaining. Singleton missed the front end of the bonus and Rock Island rebounded the ball. The Rocks' Malachi Key pulled down that rebound and tossed a full-court shot towards the other end. That 75-footer gracefully went through the net but was immediately waved off by the referee.

Lincoln caught a break in that Key released the shot after the final buzzer sounded.

In overtime, Will Ewald scored the only buckets for either team. Ewald's two free throws sealed the 46-44 victory for Lincoln.

The game was just as nerve-wracking the entire time. Neither team could buy a basket for the entire first half of the first quarter. Finally, Rock Island hit the first field goal of the game and the Rocks had pried the lid off the basket.

Jermaine Hamlin hit a corner jumper for two to bust the lid off Lincoln's basket and these two teams were about to turn the action up a notch.

Rock Island scored again but then it was Hamlin rebounding a rare Kaden Froebe miss and he did what Railer fans have come to love ~ his first rim-rattling dunk tied the game 4-4.

Rock Island took an 8-5 lead following a layup by JaMir Price.

But with the Railers holding out for that last-second shot it was Will Ewald wanting the ball, and wow, can this kid ever come through consistently in pressure situations. A three from Ewald - at the buzzer no less - tied the game 8-8.

Hamlin would give Lincoln their first lead of the game, 9-8, on a free throw.

Then it was Froebe wide open in the corner for a three to extend Lincoln's lead to 12-8. Rock Island closed the gap with a couple free throws.

Then it was time for another Hamlin dunk. He can really bring the house down and get the fans up off their seats.

The next six minutes the fans were treated to the two teams just trading buckets back-and-forth until Lincoln held the 22-20 advantage at the half.

Honestly it was Froebe trading buckets with the Rocks. The junior scored 11 points in the second quarter to carry Lincoln.

The third quarter saw Lincoln go on a tear and extend the lead to 33-22.

A highlight of the quarter proved to be another Hamlin dunk. Hamlin had eight points in the quarter to steer Lincoln in the right direction.

But Rock Island would close out the quarter outscoring Lincoln 9-5 and so the Railers lead diminished to 38-31 as the third quarter wrapped up.

A six-point effort by the Railers in their fourth quarter got them in jam as the Rocks poured in 13 points and tied the game.

On the upside, this set the stage for the Railers first win in OT this season. Thanks to Ewald coming thru at the free throw line in those final four minutes, the Railers trotted off Neil Alexander Court with a 46-44 win.

Jermaine Hamlin led Lincoln with a double-double. His 18 points and 12 rebounds were much needed on this night.

Kaden Froebe tossed in 15 points for the Railers and

Will Ewald contributed 11 points.

JaMir Price led the Rocks with 17 points and 8 rebounds.

Lincoln improves to 19-2 on the season.

The Railers JV squad lost to Rock Island 59-51.

Landon Hullinger led Lincoln with 23 points.

Keagan Ferguson was clutch with 18 points for the Railers.

The JV record falls to 15-3.

The Railers travel to Mount Zion Tuesday night for a 6 p.m JV game and a 7:30 p.m. varsity game.

Varsity scoring

Lincoln 46

Hamlin 18
Froebe 15
Ewald 11
Singleton 2

Rock Island 44

Price 17
Holtam 6
Andrews 6
Rice 5
Tucker 4
Voss 2
Key 1

JV scoring

Lincoln 51

Hullinger 23
Ferguson 18
Tungate 7
Grunder 3

Rock Island 59

Anderson 17
Metcalf 10
Nimms 8
Beal 6
Ruse 6
Sigel 3
Brozovich 3
Beckman 2
Pulliam 2

[Teena Lowery]