Lady Railers crush Leyden Eagles 62-32 in Kipp’s Hoopsfest

 

[January 21, 2025]  The Lincoln Lady Railers made it three wins in a row on Monday at the 35th Annual Coach Kipp’s Hoopsfest at Benet Academy in Lisle.

This year Lincoln defeated the Leyden Eagles of Franklin Park 62-32.

The girls played fantastic and even had a running clock on the Eagles in the fourth quarter.

Makinley Knapp led Lincoln with 16 points.

Mia Clark tossed in 11 points.

Clark was named Lou Malnati’s Player of the Game along with Leyden’s Abigail Cortez.

First quarter

The Eagles won the tip to start the game and they did not waste any time hoisting the three ball in the air and taking the first lead. Mia Clark was quick to have an answer and she retaliated with her own three-pointer to tie the game. The two teams traded baskets evenly until Lily Holmes broke a 9-9 tie to put Lincoln on top once and for all. In the last two minutes of the first quarter Holmes, Clark and Piper Whiteman put together a run that allowed Lincoln to capture a 16-9 lead.

Second quarter

Whiteman picked up where she left off in the first quarter, finding her groove and she led Lincoln to an 18-9 lead as the second quarter got underway. Knapp dropped her first field goal to double the score, 20-10. After Grace Schneider contributed two free throws, it was Mesa McCloud going back-to-back draining 3s. Same corner, same result for the junior who stretched the lead to 28-12. With a 32-14 lead, Clark took over Mesa’s corner and padded the lead with her three. It was a fun first half with Lincoln handling the ball well and limiting turnovers while playing solid defense. The result of their hard work was a 37-14 halftime lead over the Eagles.

Third quarter

Knapp scored the last bucket before the half and she was prompt at increasing the score in the third quarter. Meanwhile Holmes was versatile with her game and she attempted a three from the top of the key that bounced in to make the score 42-14. It was becoming quite clear that the Lincoln girls were accustomed to playing in the Alumni Gym of Benet High School. Knapp and Whiteman finished the scoring for Lincoln in the third quarter, combining for seven points. The offense was highlighted by Whiteman’s three from the top of the key just before the buzzer. While the Eagles edged Lincoln in scoring late in the third quarter, the Lady Railers were still confident with a 49-24 lead.

Fourth quarter

Whiteman connected for another three early in the fourth quarter and after Knapp sank two free throws at the 6:25 mark, the Lady Railers got to play the running clock game. Oh what fun to see a 55-24 lead. At the 2:50 mark the lead was 57-32 and there was no doubt the bus ride back home was going to be a happy one. McCloud had one more three in her before the subs came in and with Grey Gilbert driving the lane for the last basket of the game, the Lady Railers could claim a 62-32 win.

This marks the third consecutive year that Lincoln has participated in the tournament, which was named for the legendary coach of the Maine West girls basketball program, Derril Kipp. Under Kipp’s leadership, Maine West won 788 games over 34 seasons. His 1988 team won the Class AA state championship with a 35-0 record. Kipp passed away in the summer of 2016 at the age of 71 after a battle with cancer.

Lincoln improves to 10-9 on the season.

The Lady Railers are scheduled to play tonight at Mount Zion.

There will be a decision made later today about that game due to the extreme cold conditions.

The JV is set to tip-off at 5:30 p.m. and the Varsity will begin around 7:00 p.m.

Lincoln 62
Knapp 16
Whiteman 12
Clark 11
Holmes 9
McCloud 9
Schneider 3
Gilbert 2

Leyden 32
Cortez 11
Macleod 9
Mustafa 5
Bokuniewicz 5
Salgado 2

[Teena Lowery]