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RANDOLPH - The Randolph boys’ basketball team opened the 2025 Lewis & Clark Conference Tournament with a bang - perhaps, an understated cliche.
Walthill was at the free throw line with 4.2 seconds left and a 47-45 lead in the opening round of the conference tournament.
The Blujays missed the charity toss and Lucas Bartels hauled in the rebound and passed the ball out to Logan Lienemann, who would finish with 16 points, took a couple of dribbles and sent up a 45-foot heave at the buzzer.
“I knew the time was running out so I just stopped and let it fly,” Lienemann said. “I watched it and it just banked right into the basket. I don’t remember for sure what happened next, the whole team just met in the corner of the floor and dog-piled. It was a lot of fun.”
The “heave” sent the Cards to the championship bracket of the L&C tournament for the first time in a few years and is an example of the progress these Redbirds and coach Cory Simpson have made this season.
“Logan is one of the best shooters in the state and I couldn’t be happier for him,” Simpson said. “That’s definitely a memory he will have for a lifetime.”
Randolph had beaten Walthill earlier in the season 47-37 in a game played on the Card’s home court Jan. 7. But this was tournamenttime when the stakes are higher and everyone gives it their best shot.
The Cardinals seemed ready to make short work of the Blujays, sprinting out to a 20-4 lead at the end of the first eight minute session behind Lienemann’s eight points, a 3 from Luke Harder, buckets by Adrian Samano and Kody Junck, a basket and free throw from Ryan Engel and a couple of charity tosses by Jaylen Junck.
“I was excited for the boys to get that always tough first win in a conference tournament,” Simpson said. “We had a great week of practice heading into the game and I continue to be impressed with our ‘never give up attitude’ and their willingness to work hard to improve.”
Walthill started chipping into the lead the rest of the way, gaining a point by the intermission and 11 in the third frame and the Blujays made it all the way back and took the lead in the final eight minutes, prompting Limemann’s heroics to save the day and move forward in the tournament.
Randolph would go on to take fourth after the win over Walthill, dropping a semifinals contest to perennial Class D2 powerhouse, Wynot 60-49 before getting clipped by Winnebago 60-54 in the thirdplace game. Against the Indians, Lienemann continued with his hot hand, pouring in 19 points to pace the Cards.
The game was even throughout with the teams playing to a 17-17 draw in the first quarter and Winnebago staking a 4-point advantage at the halftime huddle.
“Logan led us but it was definitely our most well-rounded outing of the year,” Simpson said. “We played a solid four quarters, but give credit to Winnebago, they made the plays in the end.”
The Redbirds nibbled into the lead in the third, but the Indians responded with a 16-13 fourth period to earn the win.
Randolph took on the Blue Devils in the semifinals and a slow second and disastrous third quarter proved too difficult to overcome.
The Cardinals took the lead in the first quarter, heading to the second with a 15-13 lead before Wynot countered with a 19-point second while holding the Cards to seven then took command in the third as the Redbirds went frigid and scored a single bucket. The Blue Devils put up 19 to lead by 49-24 heading for the final eight minutes.
“Wynot is always a tough opponent, they play 10 guys and play really good defense,” Simpson said. “The boys wanted this one. We stuck together but came up short.”
The Cardinals never quit, outscoring Wynot 25-11 in the final period, but the damage was already done as Randolph fell by the 60-49 final score.
Samano recorded his second double-double of the season adding 10 rebounds with his 16 points to lead the Cardinals on the evening.
Lienemann added 14 points The Cardinals will take on Elgin Public/Pope John on Feb. 13 in Randolph before taking a trip to Stuart on Feb. 14 to take on the Broncos.
WAL (7-12) 4 11 16 16 - 47 RAN (8-9) 20 10 5 13 - 48 RANDOLPH: Logan Lienemann 5 2-2 16; Jaylen Junck 0 2-2 2; Ryan Engel 4 2-4 10; Kody Junck 1 0-0 2; Luke Harder 5 0-3 11; Adrian Samano 3 1-5 7.
WINN (9-11) 17 15 12 16 - 60 RAN (8-9) 17 11 13 13 - 54 RANDOLPH: Lienemann 7 1-2 19; Engel 5 2-2 14; Bartels 1 0-0 2; K. Junck 0 3-4 3; Harder 4 1-2 10; Samano 3 0-0 6.
WYN (12-7) 13 19 17 11 - 60 RAN (8-9) 15 7 2 25 - 49 RANDOLPH: Lienemann 6 0-0 14; J. Junck 1 0-1 2; Engel 2 0-0 5; Bartels 1 1-2 3; K. Junck 0 1-2 1; Harder 3 2-4 8; Samano 7 2-3 16.
