Railers defeat Effingham 42-29 on Senior Night
- Junior Payton Cook steals the show with a monster dunk
and a double-double
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[February 12, 2022] The
Lincoln Railers hosted Effingham in an Apollo Conference matchup on
Senior Night Friday at Roy S. Anderson Gymnasium. Lincoln dominated
the game from the tip-off and picked up a 42-29 win to improve their
record to 10-1 in the conference.
The Railers took an early 3-0 lead over the Hearts after Payton Cook
opened the scoring in the paint and finished the three-point play at the
free throw line. Cook would also extend the lead to 5-2 with another
basket in the lane just under the 6:00 mark. Aidan Gowin extended the
lead to 7-2 with his floater in the lane. And then with 4:02 showing on
the first quarter clock, Gowin tossed up what first looked like a three
that was going to be way off. But then the crowd rose to their feet as
Cook came flying through the air and grabbed the intended alley-oop pass
and he slammed it through the rim. The gym erupted. This was a moment
everyone had been waiting on all season long. Cook’s first monster dunk
of the season and it was a beauty. Kudos to Gowin, too. The alley-oop
was perfect. Cook’s dunk gave his team a 9-2 lead and as a timeout was
called shortly after the moment, the junior trotted over to the bench
and the crowd was still cheering. The Railers were having a lot of fun
in the first quarter. On the Railers next possession, senior Elijah
Pollice hit a three from the corner by the Hearts bench, and the 12-2
Lincoln lead had the crowd in a frenzy. After Gowin’s two free throws,
the lead was 14-2. Cook would finish the first quarter scoring by
pouring in two more baskets off the offensive rebounds he pulled down
and the Railers were in command with an 18-4 first quarter lead.
The Railers did not make their first field goal in the second quarter
until the 3:00 mark. Pollice made a tough shot in the paint surrounded
by defenders in red and the Railers were in front 21-6.
A minute later Tyler Sasse drained a three and Lincoln was up
24-9. A baseline drive by Cook completed the Railers first half scoring
and the two teams trotted to the lockers room with Lincoln up 26-13.
Jake Bivin added a quick bucket to start the third quarter scoring.
Aidan Gowin’s four points allowed Lincoln to build a 32-13 lead with
3:05 left to play. Cook and Pollice added baskets to complete the
scoring here and Lincoln was cruising past the Hearts, 36-21 the score.
With Pollice, Bivin and Sasse working in the lane to score in the fourth
quarter, the Railers quickly put away the Hearts with a final score of
42-29.
Payton Cook had a phenomenal game for Lincoln Friday night. The junior
recorded a double-double. His 16 points and 16 rebounds led the Railers.
Lincoln improved to 22-6 on the season. The Railers are 10-1 in the
Apollo Conference.
The JV suffered just their second loss of the season. Effingham won the
JV contest 32-25. Leading-scorer Trey Schilling is currently out with a
shoulder injury.
Drew Hayes led the JV team with 12 points.
The JV record is now 20-2 on the season.
Lincoln will play at East Peoria tonight. The JV game will start at 5
p.m. and the Varsity is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Prior to the start of the Varsity game Friday night, Seniors in Band,
Dance, Cheer and Basketball were recognized on Neil Alexander Court.
Those students honored for their dedication were:
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