LINCOLN PARK – Downriver League boys basketball took center stage in Lincoln Park on Friday night when the host Railsplitters welcomed in Trenton for a clash of top conference clubs.
Friday night capped off the first half of the double round-robin DRL schedule for both clubs. Lincoln Park was looking to maintain sole possession of first place, while Trenton — who came in just two games back in the standings — was looking to inch closer towards the top of the standings.A high-level, hotly-contested game went back and forth all evening long but in the end, it was the defending DRL champions from Lincoln Park getting the 66-57 victory over the visiting Trojans.
A big night from former first-team all-News-Herald honoree Zahir Haqq proved to be just enough for the hosts and their head coach Brian Starll.
“With Zahir, everything kind of follows him,” Starll said. “He makes us go. One person can’t guard him. So you have to send help and then just kind of move the ball and wherever the ball lands, that person’s got to make a play.”
Opening the game, offense was hot and heavy with both teams trading buckets early.
After a 17-12 Lincoln Park advantage in the first quarter, both teams continued to keep up tempo offense going, making a plethora of buckets. In a one-score game right before the half, it was Bink Harvey hitting a buzzer-beater to put the Rails up 33-29 at the break.
Starll’s crew took that momentum right into the second half, extending their lead to double-digits by the end of the third quarter at 53-43.
In the final frame, Trenton attempted to regain control but every time they came within striking distance, Lincoln Park seemingly had an answer.
While his team came out on top, Lincoln Park head coach Brian Starll spoke highly of Trenton and what they can do to counteract his own Lincoln Park bunch.
“They’re a tough team,” Starll said. “They moved the ball. They’re hard to guard and they execute. Usually we can turn teams over and kind of speed them up, but they didn’t seem like they were too phased by our defensive pressure. They did a good job.”
Starll’s counterpart, Trenton head coach James Babyak, talked about the difficulties of trying to match up with Lincoln Park.
“Yeah, this was a tough one,” Babyak said. “We played hard. (Haqq) is talented and he’s got a lot of skills and (junior Terry Crawford) shot the hell out of it today. They’re a good team.
“I think in a way you can play with them,” Babyak continued. “You know, we turned the ball over a little too much in the first half, but we’re playing hard,” Babyak added. “We play hard all the time. That is the one thing I can’t say about this group. No matter what happens, they go out there and at least play.”
Leading the way for Lincoln Park was the aforementioned Haqq with 35 points. He was aided by Crawford who had 12 points as well as Harvey with nine points.
For Trenton, Sam Bono scored a team-best 20 points in a losing effort, while Will Frost and Brennan Gulliver both chipped in with 11 points.
UP NEXT
Lincoln Park (10-3, 8-0 DRL) will look to continue their winning ways in the DRL when they host Gibraltar Carlson next Tuesday, Jan 20. The Rails opened up their campaign with a 51-40 road win vs the Marauders back on Dec 2.
“We have to clean some stuff up on defense,” Starll said of notable adjustments to emphasize. “We’re not used to giving up this many points, but I think we kind of get comfortable. We have these games where we’re making shots, and I think we kind of let up on defense.
“When you get to the games that really mean a lot in the league and also in districts and regionals, you have to be able to get stopped, “Starll continued. “I don’t feel like we’re getting stops like we need to right now.”
Trenton (7-4, 5-3 DRL) that same night next week will look to bounce back on when they travel to Dearborn for a game against Edsel Ford. The Trojans will eye a season sweep after defeating the Thunderbirds, 71-63, to tip off the season back in December.
“They’re pretty tough,” Babyak said of Edsel. “So we just got to learn how to take care of the basketball a little bit better and find guys that can score. Hopefully we score a little bit, defend a little bit better than we did tonight, and take care of the ball. Turnovers are still our killer.”
Photo gallery of Trenton vs Lincoln Park in a key DRL boys hoops clash
