Lincoln Gets Motivated, Rolls Over Coronado

At least Coronado made a quarter of it.

But the Islanders also made an exit from the Section basketball playoffs, suffering 104-49 loss to Lincoln in a Division IV semifinal at Serra High.

Coronado kept pace with the Hornets through the first quarter, which ended, 25-19. But the Islanders could manage only six points in each of the next two quarters and Lincoln just kept going. It was 48-27 after two and 69-33 after three.

Before the game, Lincoln Coach Ron Loneski warned his team not to be overconfident.

“The coaches said to keep our heads in the game,” sophomore guard Archie Robinson said. “They told us that in the playoffs, everybody is as good as us.”

It was an unsuccessful snowjob, however.

“It’s hard to believe that sometimes,” Robinson continued. “But you’ve got to because that’s the only way to keep the game in focus.

“Sometimes you just have to trick yourself into thinking the other team is good.”

Afterward, Loneski was asked how he motivates his team for a playoff game that will be much easier than anything it faced in the regular season.

“It’s hard,” he said. “It’s really hard. But there is some good and there’s some bad in (this system).

“First, on the good side, everybody gets to play so everybody is happy.”

Indeed. Lincoln had 12 players score, including three brought up from the JV, the thinking being that they could soak up the playoff atmosphere. Who would have guessed they would contribute to the victory?

Hosa Baker led Lincoln with 17 points. Other Hornets in double figures included: Robinson, 16; John Akridge, 13; Dennis Washington, 12; and Berry Randle, 12.

Only one Islander was in double figures--Chris Anselmo finished with 15.

Now, back to Loneski, who gave his opinion on the flip-side of this playoff system in which nearly every county team enters regardless of record.

“The bad part is our intensity level suffers,” he said. “It’s just hard to play a game like this in the playoffs.”