High School Boys Basketball
Railers defeat Effingham 42-31

[February 02, 2022] 

The Lincoln Railers visited Effingham on Monday night and pulled away from the Flaming Hearts in the second half, earning a 42-31 win.

Payton Cook scored the first two buckets for Lincoln and after a three by Aidan Gowin the Railers were quickly up 7-2 in this Apollo Conference matchup. With Elijah Pollice hitting a three in the first quarter, the Railers lead was 10-4. The quarter would come to an end with Lincoln on top 10-6.

The Flaming Hearts pulled to within a point, 10-9 the score with 5:33 on the second quarter clock. Tyler Sasse and Pollice hit back-to-back threes to stretch the lead to 15-9. After the last three, the Railers experienced a little slump on offense. With Garrett Wolfe hitting a three for Effingham before the quarter ended, the Lincoln lead was a slim 15-14 going into halftime.

Wolfe opened the third quarter with a three that helped the Flaming Hearts to a 17-15 lead. Pollice and the Railers were quick to nip that in the bud and, wow, did Lincoln ever go on a tear! After Pollice tied the game, Cook’s layup pushed the Railers in front 19-17. Pollice pulled up for a soft jumper seconds later and then give or take a minute, it was Cook from the deep corner for a three! After Pollice’s field goal around the minute mark, the Railers were in front 26-17. Pollice scored one more basket in that third quarter and the Railers had to be pleased with themselves and the 28-17 lead on the scoreboard.

Heading into the fourth quarter, the Railers carried that momentum and as Camden Nelson showed off a nice spin move in the lane that resulted in a bucket, the Lincoln lead just kept growing. Pollice added a long three to make the score 33-17 and the Flaming Hearts were stunned. As if a steal at half-court by Pollice was not enough, the dagger in the heart was the pull-up jumper he made to set the score at 35-17. If you are tallying at home that was a 20-0 run by the Railers versus Effingham. The Flaming Hearts would finally score just under the 6:00 mark, but with Nelson sinking a three quickly thereafter, the Railers kept a commanding lead. Cook would put away the Flaming Hearts with his final two baskets of the game. With the score now 42-24, Effingham did not have a chance. Wolfe’s final basket of the game set the score at 42-31.

The Railers were led in scoring by Elijah Pollice with 19 points. Payton Cook scored 13 points for Lincoln.

Lincoln improved to 19-5 on the season.

In the JV game, the Railers defeated Effingham 40-28.

Trey Schilling led Lincoln with 17 points. Ki’on Carson tossed in 10 points for the Railers.

The Railers JV team improved to 17-1 on the season.

Lincoln is scheduled to play at Taylorville on Thursday night. Weather permitting. The JV game is scheduled for 6 p.m. The Varsity game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Watch for possible sport cancellations.

Varsity scoring

Lincoln 42

Pollice 19
Cook 13
Nelson 5
Gowin 3
Sasse 2

Effingham 31

Wolfe 16
Heil 9
Fox 3
Ritz 2
Splechter 1

JV scoring

Lincoln 40

Schilling 17
Ki’on Carson 10
Evers 6
Miller 5
Ka’ni Carson 2

Effingham 28

Donaldson 13
Fox 10
Hull 5

[Teena Lowery]