By Daniel Winningham The Carlinville High School boys’ basketball team started slow, recovered and played well for much of the second and third quarters but in the end was done in by its inability to capture rebounds on the defensive end in a 49-43 loss to Raymond Lincolnwood Dec. 28 at the CHS Gym. “Our biggest problem was we couldn’t get a defensive rebound,” Carlinville boys basketball coach Mike Rigoni said after the game. “We just gave them too many second chance [points]. Our press was effective, our half-court defensive was effective. We forced tough shots. But you don’t end a defensive possession until you have the rebound. We just couldn’t clear it out. That’s not anything except us just not boxing out and doing our job and getting it.” The Cavaliers, who trailed 9-4 after the first quarter, led 18-14 at halftime, took a 32-25 lead into the final quarter and held a 39-31 edge with six minutes left in the game. But the Lancers finished strong, using a 10-0 run to take a 41-39 lead and then closing the game with an 8-2 burst to escape with the win. Carlinville’s Adelmo Marchiori took control of an offensive rebound and tied the contest, 41-41, with a lay-up with 1:46 remaining. However, baskets from the Lancers’ Brett Eddings and Dan Hemann pushed the lead to 45-41. The six-foot-six Hemann got behind the Carlinville defense and slammed the ball home with 1:10 remaining to send the Lancer fans into a frenzy. The Cavaliers weren’t quite done, though. Luke Davis put in a field goal as he was fouled at the 1:01 mark. But with a chance to tie the game, Davis missed his free throw. The Cavaliers, later trailing 46-43, had more chances to tie, but Barry Stewart missed two 3 point attempts. Lincolnwood got the defensive rebounds and Carlinville was then forced to foul. The Lancers converted four of six free throw attempts in the final minute to seal the win.

Source: Macoupin County Enquirer, Dec 30, 2010