High School Boys Basketball
Lincoln gets the 56-40 win over Belleville Althoff
Bivin records a double-double, 12 points and 11 rebounds

[November 27, 2022]

The Railers bounced back into the win column on Friday night with a 56-40 victory over Belleville Althoff in the 2022 Lincoln/Eaton Thanksgiving Tournament.

The Railers came out hungry for a win after that loss on Wednesday night to Mount Zion. The Railers definitely shot better (49% from the field) and hit the boards more (32 team rebounds) and one certain senior was determined to have a better game: Jake Bivin. Bivin used that 6’2" athletic frame of his to pull down 11 rebounds and fight his way into the lane for 12 points. The Railers also got double-digit scoring off the bench, with Tyler Sasse (12) and Camden Nelson (10) turning in better performances. None of the three scored on Wednesday night versus Mount Zion.

Jumping into the game versus Belleville Althoff, Railer Nation had to watch the Crusaders win the tip. The Crusaders didn’t get a shot off in the first possession, with the Railers Ki’on Carson stealing the ball. Carson then lost the ball under the Lincoln basket. 6’4" junior Taylor Powel grabbed the ball and ran with it for the Crusaders, slamming home a dunk at the other end to give Belleville Althoff the first points of the game.

Jake Bivin got Lincoln on the board at the 5:45 mark after his putback off the offensive rebound. Seconds later Bivin would give Lincoln a 4-2 lead with two more points in the paint. Powel tied the game 4-4 after his steal led to a basket. At the 3:20 mark it was Payton Cook dancing in the lane and scoring, giving Lincoln the 6-4 advantage. Cook made another beautiful move in the lane seconds later and the Railers were only moving forward in this one, with the lead growing to 8-4. It was evident early on that the Railers need to get the ball into the hands of Cook.

His presence all over the court is felt and his game has improved leaps and bounds since last season. It’s still the beginning of the season, but early indications show Cook could really have a breakout senior year. He’s put in a lot of hard work preparing for this moment and it’s showing.

The 6’7" senior even showed how he’s worked on his outside game with a long two from the top at the 2:05 mark and this basket gave Lincoln the 10-4 lead. Copy that. Each team sank a free throw before the first quarter ended and the score showed Lincoln in the lead 11-5.

Railer Nation brought their A game and their favorite jerseys to the game versus Belleville Althoff.

After a bucket by the Crusaders first in the second quarter, Lincoln’s Camden Nelson fired up Railer Nation with his three from the wing to make the score 14-7. At the 4:20 mark Railer Nation was shaking those bleachers as Tyler Sasse hit a three, giving Lincoln an 18-11 lead. Seconds later Lucious Dones hushed the crowd with his own three for the Crusaders. Drew Hayes scored the Railers next four points in the paint. The 6’4" sophomore looked good as he kissed the glass near the three minute mark and then as the two minute mark approached, Hayes took the backdoor pass from Carson and laid it in nicely. This gave Lincoln a 22-14 lead. Powel would continue to shoot well and keep the Crusaders in the game, but it was Sasse off the bench who gave Lincoln a defensive spark and offensive spark that was needed in the first half. Sasse had already come up huge early in the game with a block and as the minute and a half mark grew nearer, Sasse hit a three to extend the lead to 25-16. Give credit to Carson on the beautiful assist here. His bounce pass across the court went thru lane and around the arms and legs of the reaching Crusaders and directly into the hands of Sasse. Just before the half ended, Dones sank a three to cut the lead to 25-19. As the Railers trotted off to the locker room, the crowd was certainly happy for a lead.

Halftime entertainment was once again presented by the LCHS Railettes. Their dance performance to the song “Sucker” by the Jonas Brothers was enjoyed by all. And of course the LCHS Pep Band kept the crowd alive with their rendition of “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond. All the entertainment makes the halftime fly by.

To start the third quarter, Coach Neil Alexander shook the lineup up a bit by placing Sasse, Bivin, Cook, Gowin and Carson on the court. Cook’s fadeaway in the lane would be the Railers first points in the second half. After Carson’s basket in the lane, the Railers were up by double-digits over the Crusaders, 29-19 the score. The offense was clicking for Lincoln in the third quarter with Aidan Gowin getting the finger roll in the lane to go through the net and this move put Lincoln in a good position with a 31-19 lead. Sasse added a three from the corner with 3:38 on the clock and the Railers were enjoying a 34-19 lead. After Bivin and Carson put together quick buckets around the three minute mark, the Railers lead grew to 38-19. Sasse added two more points in the paint with just under two minutes to play in the quarter, and the Railers were making the crowd smile with their offensive effort. Nelson also put a smile on everyone’s face as he hit back-to-back threes for Lincoln in less than thirty seconds. The third quarter would end with the Railers up 46-28.

Baskets by Hayes and Trey Schilling in the fourth quarter made the score 50-32. The Crusaders were still in the fight, but it was Bivin on this night who brought the intensity and desire to win. Bivin poured in two more quick layups under the four minute mark and the Railers had built up a nice 54-36 lead. Bivin scored Lincoln’s last bucket around the 1:30 mark and this sealed the Railers win. The final score was 56-40.

Jake Bivin hustled his way to 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Tyler Sasse turned in a fine performance with 12 points and 8 rebounds.

Camden Nelson came off the bench to light up the scoreboard for 10 points.

Taylor Powel led Belleville Althoff with 16 points.

Lincoln improves to 2-1 on the season.

The Railers will play tonight at 6:30 p.m. versus Mahomet-Seymour for third place of the 2022 Lincoln/Eaton Thanksgiving Tournament.

In earlier games Friday:

Mount Zion 68
Cahokia 46

Belleville West 53
Champaign Centennial 45

Mahomet-Seymour 53
Danville 70

Mount Zion (3-0) and Belleville West (3-0) will take on each other tonight at 8:15 p.m. in the championship of the 2022 Lincoln/Eaton Thanksgiving Tournament.

In early games to be played today, Cahokia will play Champaign Centennial at 3 p.m. and Belleville Althoff will play Danville at 4:45 p.m.

Scoring

Lincoln 56

Bivin 12
Sasse 12
Nelson 10
Cook 8
Hayes 6
Carson 4
Schilling 2
Gowin 2

Belleville Althoff 40

Powel 16
Dones 9
Lewis 9
Liverpool 4
Coldon 1
Johnson 1

[Teena Lowery]