Reek Picnic
Basketball 2010-11

  Tyreek "Reek" Wanamaker is a senior at Lincoln with an interest in sports and journalism. He'd like to see every Pub school have a writer contributing to this site, but in lieu of that . . he'll again keep an eye on the Railsplitters. We thank Reek for returning to our ever-wacky group.
  Tyreek may be reached at reek650@yahoo.com.

JAN. 25
SPLIT(TERS) PERSONALITY

    What team will we get tonight? That has to be the question Lincoln Railsplitters coach Al Brown asks himself before every game. The Splitters have been great....when they want to be. The team right now is really struggling with consistency and it wasn't more apparent than in the last couples. All season the 'Splitters have gone into these lulls where they force passes and shots, which leads to terrible offense and even worse defense and it almost bit them in the butt last week. The lulls combined with the referees' sloppy calls have exposed the Splitters biggest weakness, defending the break.
      The Splitters struggled to stop 'Brook guard Samir Hill, who posted 12 of his 19 points off the break. Edison's transition offense seemed slow, and their point man looked about the same size as me.... but that's beside the point, Edison was still able to score in transition versus the 'Splitters and that game almost turned into an upset if it wasn't for the play of Kendrick Barnes who was cold the first half but finished big with a couple big rebounds and blocks towards the end. 
  The Splitters once again showed its two faces versus Pub-Perennial Frankford, in what might be the Pub's game of the year. The Splitters started out strong early on in this one, going shot for shot with a team that blew them out of their own building last year. The Pioneers went into the half with a 27-21 lead but the persistent Splitters were still in it. Surprise Splitter Star, Forward Michael Bowlers, scored the first points of the second half on an outstanding take to the basket that should've been called a foul but the Pioneers would open the game back up with two straight fastbreak layups. Lincoln would close the gap to 5, but missed free throws would have the 'Splitters finding themselves back in the hole 47-40 with just 3:00 left, but Lincoln fought back. Down six with nine on the clock Guard Jack Ferguson would pull up and drop a clutch shot from distance to make the lead only but Frankford would make its next free throws after an intentional by guard Rickey Savage ending the Splitters hope of a comeback. Bowlers, as he has been all season, caught fire early in this game snatching ten boards, sending four Pioneer attempts, picking up one assist and six points in the first half but he started to fade late and the rest of the team seemed to follow.
    Like I said, fast break points and shooting droughts have been coach Brown's teams' biggest weakness. While just about everything else has been a positive for this team these lulls have to stop. Bad offense causes bad defense and another thing about these lulls... they happen in the worst possible time for this team, the second half, killing their ability to finish games. The Edison game should've been a blowout, the Gratz game should've been a win, same for Frankford, but for some reason when the team has needed points the most they just haven't been able to finish. They haven't been able to put the dagger in teams when they have had the chance.
    There is a bright spot. After last Thursday's trouncing of Kensington the team is now 7-2. Post play has been outstanding so far this season partly because the emergence of Bowlers as a dominant presence down low. Role players like Devin Jones and Jack Ferguson have had some big moments and guard Ricky Savage has been good, though his numbers are down and he seems out of place at times at the 2, he hasn't been able to take games over as much as last year, but his speed alone has made a big difference on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Another player who has greatly impacted the 'Splitters this season, and maybe a surprise to most, is point man Nahjir Robinson. Robinson has matured into one of the most important cogs in the machine for Lincoln so far. His decision making has improved though he does have his erratic moments and he has made some big time plays on both sides in the ball.
    Right now, the Splitters are in a good position but they have to correct their mistakes.

JAN. 3
NON-LEAGUE
Lincoln 63, Wood 57
  If you were at last night's Lincoln vs. Archbishop Wood non-league game, you might've been a little surprised by the final score. If you were to ask anybody if they would've been able to fathom that the 'Splitters could not only beat Archbishop Wood but lead by 22 at the half, they probably would have laughed. To tell the truth I couldn't even believe what I saw. The 'Splitters came out firing on all cylinders both offensively and defensively, giving the Vikings fits in the paint by running their 2-3 trap to near perfection, forcing turnovers and denying Wood the paint for the entire first half.
 F/G Devin Jones seemed to be the main difference maker, plucking Wood ballhandlers six times, grabbing 4 boards and dropping 12 pts. 
  Defensively the 'Splitters were like a band of thieves, filling the Vikings' passing lanes for 15 steals. Led by Jones' 6, Rickey Savage and Nahjir Robinson combined for 6 while Michael Bowlers and Ron Rollins had 1 and 2, respectively. Lincoln's D put them in a position to run the flow and run they did -- 23 of the 'Splitters points came off of Wood turnovers.
  The 'Splitters almost blew this one in the second half, allowing Wood to go on a 33-11 run fueled by this team's two main problems, frustration and the turnovers that follow. Either way this team should be proud of itself. It achieved something the football hasn't been able to do in 20 years . . . beat a credible Catholic League team. The next step for this team is to knock off a few of the Pub's big dogs and iron out those scoring lulls, then it's playoff time.

DEC. 29
I'M THINKIN' LINCOLN HOOPS

  All right, 'Splitters hoops fans, it's the time we've all been waiting for. It's Basketball season and all the usual suspects are back, minus embattled F Tyrone Martin. Blazing combo guard Rickey "Slick Rick" Savage joins stingy pointman Nahjir Robinson in the backcourt  for new coach Al Brown and his 2010-2011 squad. Forwards Ronald "Boy Boy" Rollins, Michael Bowlers and Kendrick Barnes add the defensive firepower to a team that should terrorize the Pub. 
    The 'Splitters first couple of games have been a little of... well... the best of both worlds. When it's hot it's flaming hot and when it's cold it's . . .  let's just say you wouldn't wanna be in the gym with John Stockton's shorts on. Unfortunately, up to now it has been more of the latter. Versus Gratz the 'Splitters showed that they are still not at the level where the team would like to be. Ultimately what killed the 'Splitters against Gratz was sloppy plays that led to points on the other end and the inability or unwillingness to attack the basket. The Bulldogs were too athletic offensively and defensively to give up those types of plays and the score got out of hand as frustration mounted oncourt.
    Coach Brown would get 'em turned around in their next game versus King. Although it wasn't run with as much consistency as expected, the 'Splitters Offense seemed more crisp and moved in and out of sets smoothly and fluently, opening up the post for big man Ronald Rollins (17 points 10 Rebounds five blocks and an assist)  and Michael Bowlers (11, six rbs and 7 blocks).
    The new O definitely plays into Savage's playing style; he had 15 points, six assists, 1 rebound, 1 block and 3 steals . He doesn't have to score as many points and he has more options at the 2-guard position than he did last year with a lineup full of guys that can score from mid-range.
    The D has been just as off and on as the offense. The Splitters' 2-3 zone has been giving opposing teams fits. It's virtually unstoppable with the incredible length in the starting lineup combined with the hand speed of Savage and Robinson. The Splitters force a ton of turnovers, which should lead to transition points on the other end. But that hasn't been the result that the team has been getting. It seems to me that the 'Splitters get too excited when they see a chance at easy points. Missed layups on the break, not being able to finish at the tin, turnovers on the break, forced passes, missed passes, the list could go on and they're all because of guys forcing plays. Against Prep I counted maybe six or seven times where a guy would get a rebound and just sling a Hail Mary that was either picked off or went out of bounds. And when the passes WERE caught guys, couldn't finish at the tin.
    Coach Brown has added exactly what this team needs to be great, moxie, but the team has to meet him halfway. Right now they're close but they're still a ways off of what they can be. If it wasn't for a few offensive lulls and the team letting it's anger get to them (another thing that needs to be fixed) this team could have beat Gratz. The team needs to get more of a freestyle mindset while still running the sets efficiently. Drive to the basket, create space for someone else -- the little things that matter the most on O.
    The Splitters' wound up being off for the holiday because of the cancellation (grrrrrrrr) of Northeast's Tourney.