Collinsville, Ill. – The improbable run by the Collinsville Kahoks at Schnucks Holiday Classic ended when Lincoln topped the hosts 47-34.
Image by Roger Starkey
The Kahoks (6-7) got off to a promising start, scoring the game’s first two buckets, before the Railsplitters (11-2) tacked on five quick points. Collinsville Head Coach Darin Lee called an early timeout and his team responded, scoring the next eight points for a 12-5 lead.
Collinsville’s 19-11 lead at the end of the first quarter evaporated quickly. Lincoln scored the first 16 points of the second quarter. The Railsplitter run was finally broken by a Sean Davis bucket with 1:39 remaining in the half. A Brett Langley 3-pointer at the buzzer cut the Kahok’s deficit to 29-24.
The five-point Collinsville second quarter was the first of three for the Kahoks. When Lincoln’s pressure defense was not rattling the Kahoks, it was forcing methodical possessions, characterized by perimeter passing, which rarely ended with points. The Railers, meanwhile crisply worked the ball for open shots. Lincoln outshot the Kahoks 51.6 to 42.9 percent. Collinsville committed nine turnovers and Lincoln six.
The 13-point game was the closest for Lincoln on their way to back-to-back holiday classic championships. Tournament MVP Gavin Block led all scorers with 27 points. Fellow All-Tournament Player Will Cook, with 11, was the only other Railer to score in double figures.
Brett Langley led Collinsville with nine points. All-Tournament players Anfirnee Wilkinson and Emondre Rickman scored seven points each.
Althoff defeated McCluer North 76-64 to win the third place game.
Named to the All-Tournament team were:
- Morris – McCluer North
- Berry – Granite City
- Johnson – Decatur McAurther
- Tillman – East St. Louis
- Goodwin – Althoff
- Gooch – Althoff
- Wilkinson – Collinsville
- Rickman – Collinsville
- Cook – Lincoln
- Block – Lincoln (MVP)
Collinsville’s next game is at 7:30 p.m. Jan.6 at Fletcher Gym versus Granite City.
