Loggers push through injuries

Injuries have plagued Lincoln Land’s men’s basketball team this year.

The 4-21 season has also seen a new coach take over the team from Chad Jones, who is now the head coach of the women’s team.

Head Coach Chuck Shanklin previously coached at Lanphier and Southeast high schools in Springfield. Shanklin said moving to coaching in college has given him a greater challenge with bigger players and no easy wins.

Shanklin said the team is better than their record reflects, but the injuries have held them back. The team has recorded the four wins in the second half of the season.

Many of the injuries came early in the season, said Benji Eaker, a freshman forward.

Some of the losses have also been close games that the Loggers could have won, Shanklin said.

The coach said the team’s best game of the year was against MacMurray College’s junior varsity team, a game which the Loggers won 81-46 on Jan. 17.

They were able to shoot and rebound consistently, Shanklin said.

“Shooting and rebounding have been big problems for them this year,” Shanklin said. He also said he wants to see improved defense over the rest of the season.

“We need to stay together and compete for all 40 minutes of the game and continue to get better,” said freshman guard Jordan Brooks.

The recent win on Feb. 9 against Illinois Central College was a strong game, players said. Illinois Central was ranked No. 17. The Loggers won 75-70, and Brooks and Eaker both said it was good to have a victory after four losses.

The team closed out the game well going on a 7-2 run at the end, Brooks and Eaker said. Hopefully, the team can close out more games during the rest of the season.

Ryan Scott can be reached at [email protected].