Lincoln-Way Central continues late-season push

Updated: May 4, 2011 8:48PM

Lincoln-Way Central will not be able to duplicate its 30-win season of a year ago, but with four regular-season games and one tournament left on the schedule, the Knights are determined to make some noise before the 2011 season wraps up.

“The (Lincoln-Way East) tournament this weekend is very important,” said Central’s Alex Severson. “Not only to get a last glimpse at some of the teams we’ll see later in the state tournament, but to prove to ourselves that we have come a long way.”

Lincoln-Way Central did not have to go too far or too long Wednesday to pick up its 15th win of the season. Severson had eight kills and two blocks, Sean Blackwood and Jake Marotta each had seven kills and Matt Dugan added 14 assists to lead the Knights to a 25-14, 25-19 win at Stagg.

“Things are starting to come together,” said Severson, who has committed to play basketball at Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa next season. “We want to show what we can do. We know how much hard work we have been putting in to improve.”

Lincoln-Way Central (15-11) built an early 12-4 lead in Game 1 and forced Stagg to burn both of its timeouts before fans had a chance to get settled in their seats. The lead swelled to 20-11 when 6-foot-5 sophomore Austin Overby found an open corner.

Stagg (4-19) made things interesting in Game 2, rallying from a 9-4 deficit to pull within 11-10 on a kill by Ramsey Shahbain. But the Knights answered with a 6-1 run to force another Stagg timeout, and Connor Thorp’s second kill of the game closed out the match.

“We have played some real strong teams this season, and a lot of our height is young,” Lincoln-Way Central coach Joanne Holverson said. “We’re learning. Last year, we were all seniors. Sean (Blackwood) was the only regular back.

“We knew it was going to be a rebuilding year, but we have some great kids,” she added. “The biggest thing is they want to get better.”

Thorp had 10 assists and Overby finished with four kills and an assist for the Knights. The Chargers got 13 assists from junior Matt Hartigan, three kills and a block from Shahbain and three kills and an ace from junior Jordan Joseph.

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