Lincoln Railers win on Senior Night over Normal West 66-45
Railers finish the regular season 29-2

[February 29, 2020] 

Roy S. Anderson Gymnasium was packed and buzzing on Friday night as the seniors from Basketball, Dance, Cheerleading and Band were all recognized ahead of the Varsity contest between Lincoln and Normal West. Seniors introduced were:

Ella Burton - Band
Claire Hill - Band / Cheer
Katherine Lewis - Band
Eli Morris - Band
Aria Pumfrey - Band
Bayleigh Gillum - Dance
Mia Hullinger - Dance
Emma Stoltzenburg - Dance
Taylor Gandolfi - Cheer
Abi Steffens - Cheer
Adrienne Tiffany - Cheer
Addy Yeazle - Cheer
Will Ewald - Basketball
Kaden Froebe - Basketball
Kameron Whiteman - Basketball

The Railette Dance team was also recognized at center court for their 2020 IDTA AA Poms State Championship.

Following tip-off it was the final performance of the regular season that featured typical Railer basketball that fans have come accustomed to this year. Lincoln was quick to shoot their way to a 5-0 lead after Will Ewald opened the scoring on a layup and Kameron Whiteman followed up with a three.

Normal West countered with a three from Alec McGinnis to make it a 5-3 ballgame but the Railers wasted no time stretching the lead to 9-3 after a putback by Landon Hullinger and a couple free throws by Dylan Singleton. Normal West would get a three out of Michael Werkman, his only points of the game, and fans were wondering early if this game would actually be a test for the Railers. How quickly the Railers pass a test with flying colors.

Ewald's three and Hullinger's two made it a 12-6 ballgame.

After Singleton sank a bucket in the lane, Kaden Froebe decided to get in on the scoring action. Froebe's shot around the minute mark made it an 18-8 game. Singleton finished the quarter with a free throw from the line that was good for a 19-8 Lincoln first quarter lead.

Colton Cassady scored for Normal West early in the second quarter to make the score 19-11.

Whiteman was the first man to score for Lincoln in the second quarter, a quiet two just ahead of the gym exploding because of this next gem.

Froebe tossed a pass high in the air to a ready and waiting Hullinger under the basket and yes, this time he did it. Hullinger gobbled up the alley-oop pass and as he threw it down through the basket, he literally rattled the rim in the process. The crowd erupted in applause and the smooth 6'4 junior ran back on defense, head down and focused on his next move.

Not that Lincoln ever needs an extra boost to ignite the offense, but Lincoln would go on an 20-0 run that began with 6:24 showing on the clock and that run did not end until Singleton stood at the line sinking shots that would drive the score out to 39-11 with 1:27 flashing on the board.

In the midst of those five beautiful offensive minutes were, of course, the shots by Whiteman and Hullinger, and Lando would also add a couple more points in the paint and a free throw.

Ewald then hit another three while Froebe hit nothing but net on back-to-back threes. Ewald found his way to toss up a nice-looking baseline floater to shake things up a bit.

And finally Singleton finished things off at the free throw line.

The 20-0 looked effortless on the part of the Railers.

McGinnis broke the scoring drought for the Wildcats with just under a minute left in the first half. But seconds later Lincoln was looking at a 43-16 halftime lead as Froebe barely missed a 3/4 length shot at the buzzer. If that shot would have went in, the roof may have came off Roy S. Anderson.

The third quarter offense was dominated by Whiteman, Singleton and Froebe. The 20-point attack was led by four 3s, two each from Whiteman and Froebe. Singleton tossed in six points in the quarter that ended with the Railers up by more than 30 points.

With a 63-32 lead to start the fourth quarter, the name of the game was 'running clock.' A three from Ewald in the fourth quarter would finish the scoring for Lincoln and settle the final score at 66-45.

Each of the five starters hit double-figures for Lincoln as the Railers regular season ends with a 29-2 record. Two overtime losses, each by one point, prohibited the Railers from having a perfect record.

The Railers also won the JV contest over Normal West by a final score of 57-30. Elijah Pollice scored a season-high 30 points for Lincoln on his mom's birthday. A nice birthday present for proud mom, Amanda.

The JV team finished the 2019-20 season with a 20-3 record.

Lincoln will play Morton on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 in the Bloomington Regional at 7 p.m.

Go Railers!

Varsity scoring

Lincoln 66

Froebe 16
Ewald 15
Singleton 13
K. Whiteman 11
Hullinger 11

Normal West 45

Calhoun 12
McGinnis 9
Hutson 8
Williams 4
Ziebarth 4
Cassady 3
Werkman 3
Hernandez 2

JV scoring

Lincoln 57

Pollice 30
B. Whiteman 13
Klopp 7
Koehler 4
Battin 2
Miller 1

Normal West 30

Ziebarth 9
Verda 6
Edmonson 6
Demosthenese 3
Torre 3
Cherry 2
Higgins 1

[Teena Lowery]