Basketball heats up the court

By Akili Kelekele

Sweat, tears and hard-fought battles have continued to be the theme throughout the season for Lincoln boys varsity basketball. With a record of 13-10, the team has remained slightly above a winning percentage of .565 for most of the season.

“I’m tired of losing,” says sophomore player, Bryce Sloan. The team’s last win was a big game against the Grant Generals Jan. 22, as the Cardinals prevailed in a close one by three points.

The boys team works hard every day in hopes of someday winning a state championship, as Lincoln has never won one before. It is going to be a process, but all of the players are up for a challenge. With a newly hired coaching staff, and a young team of four sophomores and five juniors, the future for Lincoln’s basketball team is bright.

The team lost a tough dogfight 68-57 against the Cleveland Warriors, at home, on Feb. 1. A slow start with only eight points scored in the first quarter, put Lincoln into a 16-point hole at the half.

Cardinal Jaden Dewar, starting forward, scored 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had a monster block. Alongside Duart, Rasheed Butler had a stellar shooting performance with 15 points, going 5 of 7 from beyond the arc. Butler’s shot was automatic, especially down the stretch. Every player in the starting lineup chipped in with a few points as well, Sloan tallying 11.
Though it was hard to swallow that loss, and the team has not had an ideal season, the varsity players still have their eye on  the state championship, after a win Madison on Tuesday.

By Alex Paskill

While many are aware of the boys varsity success and struggles, few know much about girls basketball and their skilled players.

As one of two freshman on varsity basketball in boys and girls, Charlotte Anderson has experience  that most young athletes don’t have. In only her third year of basketball, Anderson is content with the strides she has a made as a player.

“A lot of my personal goals have been fulfilled,”  said Anderson.

For girls Varsity it’s been a strong season sitting currently second in PIL only behind their rival Grant.

“It has been a pretty successful season so far as team,” said Anderson.

Coming into the season the team set many goals in a pyramid fashion.  At the bottom lies smaller goals of rebounding but progressively increases to championships.

“It’s all about getting to the Chiles Center,” said Anderson when asked about the main season goal.

Savannah Corradini, another Varsity player, mentioned that not every goal was met.

“Coming into the year we wanted to finish undefeated in PIL. That didn’t happen but we still can beat Grant,” says Corradini.

Coach Glen Lee is in his 29th year of coaching high school and third with Lincoln. Lee has coached many talented and successful teams in the past and hopes to finish the year strong.

We’ll continue to strive for perfection everyday moving forward by pushing/challenging each other in practice,” says Lee.

As league plays begins to wrap up, there is still much to written on girls varsity season.