Railers prevail in defensive struggle in Meijer
finale
By Joe Pritchett
Chatham Editor
Despite a tough 35-34 loss to Alton earlier in the week, the Glenwood Titans were in position to forge a
3-way tie for the Meijer Glenwood Winter Classic title Saturday night when they took on the Lincoln Railers.
In the end, the Titans put on a much better show than they did in Logan County back in December (a
61-41 loss), but they could not overcome frigid outside shooting in falling 37-29 to the Railers, who
claimed the outright Classic title with the win.
Glenwood finished 5-of-25 from the 3-point line (20 percent), and 11-of-37 overall (30 percent) from the
field. Defensively, the Titans had a strong game to go along with only eight turnovers committed.
"We got our open looks and they just didn't fall," Glenwood head coach Todd Blakeman stated. "We
moved the ball really well and had only eight turnovers. I thought we guarded them really well and did
what we had to do.
"When we went up there the first time, we knew we couldn't turn it over and let them get easy points
and let them get going on 3's," he continued. "We were gonna guard the perimeter and make them put it
on the floor, and we thought we had enough defense inside to control (Kyle) Young. He didn't kill us."
After one quarter, Glenwood held a 9-4 lead as Cody Traina hit a wing 3-ball and after Noah Adams
was sent to the bench with his second foul, reserve Willie Brooks came on and scored with 1:36 left.
Brooks had an active game inside and played significant minutes as both Adams and Mitch Falter dealt
with foul trouble.
The Titans made only 1-of-8 field goals in the second quarter, including 0-of-6 from behind the arc, as
Lincoln took a 14-11 halftime lead after a basket by Young and corner 3-pointer from enforcer Wes Neece
with 1:15 left. GHS was 4-of-16 overall from the field, including 1-of-12 from 3-point land.
In the third quarter, Jared Turner and Michael Greene drained corner 3-balls at the beginning and end
of the period, but in between the Railers went on a 15-2 run to take control of the contest. Consecutive 3-
point baskets by Alex Anderson, Jordan Nelson and Ben Brackney put the Railers up 28-16.
"We had a couple of miscues, but you're not going to stop them altogether," Blakeman explained.
"They have a high-powered offense, and to hold them under 40 is a great feat for us."
Glenwood made a late charge in the fourth, as Adams had a reverse layup with 2:03 left and Greene
added a 3-pointer with 1:23 to go to pull the Titans within 32-27. Zack Zimmermann, who had a tough
night shooting from the outside, scored a basket with 27 seconds left to cut the Lincoln lead to 33-29.
But the Railers scored quickly on the inbounds pass on a breakaway layup by Nelson, and Glenwood
could not get off a shot on the other end until under 10 seconds remained, with Silas McNiece missing a 3
and Louie Schonauer grabbing the rebound to clinch the win.
"Zimmy's at 33 percent on the year shooting 3's, but we've just got to keep shooting with confidence
and play within our offense."
Young had 14 points to lead the Railers, while Nelson added seven. Greene, Traina and Adams each
scored six points to lead Glenwood, while Zimmermann had four and Turner three. Brooks and Falter
each scored two points. The Titans shot only two free throws, both by Falter, while Lincoln was 11-of-14
from the line.
Traina finished 2-of-11 from the 3-point line, while Zimmermman was 0-of-7. The Titans had 24
rebounds (Falter 6, Brooks 6, Zimmermann 4, Adams 4, Traina 3, Turner 1), eight turnovers and five
assists.
Lincoln finished 11-of-29 from the field, including 4-of-16 from behind the arc. The Railers had 17
rebounds and two turnovers.
As for Greene, who saw extended playing time at the Meijer Classic, Blakeman said, "Michael's
coming along. He was struggling at the beginning of the year playing defense, but it's a new system for
him and he's probably never had to play defense like this. Now he's starting to feel more comfortable, and
with the zones we saw this week, he was able to play at the point and on the wing. He can shoot the
basketball and gives us a boost rebounding and handling the basketball."
While admitting that the Alton and Lanphier losses recently have been tough to swallow, Blakeman
said, "We are making progress. We are better than we were a week ago, and I think we're gonna be a
tough team by the end of the year come regional time."
•Glenwood will host Springfield High (12-9, 4-4 CS8) this Friday night at 7:30, followed by another
home contest Saturday against Morton at 6:30. The Senators are coming in on a high, having swept three
games at the Springfield City Tournament last weekend.
"They are very athletic and they have two of the quicker guards in the conference and a strong kid
inside," Blakeman added. "They match up well against us. We'll have to control the tempo, take care of
the ball and do what we do with all the teams that are a little quicker than us."
Team leaders
•Points per game: Falter 9.9, Traina 9.3, Adams 8.2, Zimmermann 7.4, Brooks 3.9, Greene 3.7, Nick
Fuchs 3.1, Turner 2.6, Wenneborg 2.2.
•Rebounds per game: Falter 5.3, Adams 4.7, Brooks 3.5, Traina 2.9, Zimmermann 2.7, Turner 1.6,
Wenneborg 1.4.
finale
By Joe Pritchett
Chatham Editor
Despite a tough 35-34 loss to Alton earlier in the week, the Glenwood Titans were in position to forge a
3-way tie for the Meijer Glenwood Winter Classic title Saturday night when they took on the Lincoln Railers.
In the end, the Titans put on a much better show than they did in Logan County back in December (a
61-41 loss), but they could not overcome frigid outside shooting in falling 37-29 to the Railers, who
claimed the outright Classic title with the win.
Glenwood finished 5-of-25 from the 3-point line (20 percent), and 11-of-37 overall (30 percent) from the
field. Defensively, the Titans had a strong game to go along with only eight turnovers committed.
"We got our open looks and they just didn't fall," Glenwood head coach Todd Blakeman stated. "We
moved the ball really well and had only eight turnovers. I thought we guarded them really well and did
what we had to do.
"When we went up there the first time, we knew we couldn't turn it over and let them get easy points
and let them get going on 3's," he continued. "We were gonna guard the perimeter and make them put it
on the floor, and we thought we had enough defense inside to control (Kyle) Young. He didn't kill us."
After one quarter, Glenwood held a 9-4 lead as Cody Traina hit a wing 3-ball and after Noah Adams
was sent to the bench with his second foul, reserve Willie Brooks came on and scored with 1:36 left.
Brooks had an active game inside and played significant minutes as both Adams and Mitch Falter dealt
with foul trouble.
The Titans made only 1-of-8 field goals in the second quarter, including 0-of-6 from behind the arc, as
Lincoln took a 14-11 halftime lead after a basket by Young and corner 3-pointer from enforcer Wes Neece
with 1:15 left. GHS was 4-of-16 overall from the field, including 1-of-12 from 3-point land.
In the third quarter, Jared Turner and Michael Greene drained corner 3-balls at the beginning and end
of the period, but in between the Railers went on a 15-2 run to take control of the contest. Consecutive 3-
point baskets by Alex Anderson, Jordan Nelson and Ben Brackney put the Railers up 28-16.
"We had a couple of miscues, but you're not going to stop them altogether," Blakeman explained.
"They have a high-powered offense, and to hold them under 40 is a great feat for us."
Glenwood made a late charge in the fourth, as Adams had a reverse layup with 2:03 left and Greene
added a 3-pointer with 1:23 to go to pull the Titans within 32-27. Zack Zimmermann, who had a tough
night shooting from the outside, scored a basket with 27 seconds left to cut the Lincoln lead to 33-29.
But the Railers scored quickly on the inbounds pass on a breakaway layup by Nelson, and Glenwood
could not get off a shot on the other end until under 10 seconds remained, with Silas McNiece missing a 3
and Louie Schonauer grabbing the rebound to clinch the win.
"Zimmy's at 33 percent on the year shooting 3's, but we've just got to keep shooting with confidence
and play within our offense."
Young had 14 points to lead the Railers, while Nelson added seven. Greene, Traina and Adams each
scored six points to lead Glenwood, while Zimmermann had four and Turner three. Brooks and Falter
each scored two points. The Titans shot only two free throws, both by Falter, while Lincoln was 11-of-14
from the line.
Traina finished 2-of-11 from the 3-point line, while Zimmermman was 0-of-7. The Titans had 24
rebounds (Falter 6, Brooks 6, Zimmermann 4, Adams 4, Traina 3, Turner 1), eight turnovers and five
assists.
Lincoln finished 11-of-29 from the field, including 4-of-16 from behind the arc. The Railers had 17
rebounds and two turnovers.
As for Greene, who saw extended playing time at the Meijer Classic, Blakeman said, "Michael's
coming along. He was struggling at the beginning of the year playing defense, but it's a new system for
him and he's probably never had to play defense like this. Now he's starting to feel more comfortable, and
with the zones we saw this week, he was able to play at the point and on the wing. He can shoot the
basketball and gives us a boost rebounding and handling the basketball."
While admitting that the Alton and Lanphier losses recently have been tough to swallow, Blakeman
said, "We are making progress. We are better than we were a week ago, and I think we're gonna be a
tough team by the end of the year come regional time."
•Glenwood will host Springfield High (12-9, 4-4 CS8) this Friday night at 7:30, followed by another
home contest Saturday against Morton at 6:30. The Senators are coming in on a high, having swept three
games at the Springfield City Tournament last weekend.
"They are very athletic and they have two of the quicker guards in the conference and a strong kid
inside," Blakeman added. "They match up well against us. We'll have to control the tempo, take care of
the ball and do what we do with all the teams that are a little quicker than us."
Team leaders
•Points per game: Falter 9.9, Traina 9.3, Adams 8.2, Zimmermann 7.4, Brooks 3.9, Greene 3.7, Nick
Fuchs 3.1, Turner 2.6, Wenneborg 2.2.
•Rebounds per game: Falter 5.3, Adams 4.7, Brooks 3.5, Traina 2.9, Zimmermann 2.7, Turner 1.6,
Wenneborg 1.4.
Chatham Clarion
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Issue Date: Jan. 29, 2009
