Preview of Lincoln vs. Duncanville Tonight with Prediction
by Alex Schwartz
ESPN has a schedule of 15 games that it will televise in the 2008-2009 high school boys' basketball season. Of those, just one if on regular old ESPN, not ESPN2 (four of the games) or ESPNU (10 of the games), but the original. That showdown is tonight, in a battle of two of America's best teams—both of which are public schools—Lincoln (NY) and Duncanville (TX), in what will be ESPN's second televised game of the year, as it is the back end of a double header, with Bishop McGuinness (OK) and Putnam City (OK) facing off just before on ESPNU. Lincoln is led by ultra-talented Lance Stephenson, a physical specimen who plays the wing position. The Railsplitters also have Maryland-bound big man James Padgett '09, Darwin "Buddha" Ellis '09, and Shaquille Stokes '11, but not much else. Duncanville features six high-major ballers: Texas-signee Shawn Williams '09, future Oklahoma State Cowboys Reger Dowell '09 and Roger Franklin '09, Baylor-commit Perry Jones '10, Julian Washburn '10, and Jamison Sterns. Duncanville began the year as the number one team in America in the rankings put out by ESPN Rise, PrepNation, and USA Today, but has already lost two games this season, and is now ranked 10, 7, and 19 respectively. Meanwhile, Lincoln, which is undefeated, is ranked 6, 4, and 2 respectively by the trio of sites.
So yes, Duncanville is struggling a bit thus far with two losses and Lincoln is ranked higher, but I see this game going in favor of the squad from Texas. The game is being played in th Lone Star State, which gives Williams, Franklin, and Co. an advantage. Also, Stephenson may not be as affective as usual, as Williams and Franklin should be able to due a solid job of guarding him, though he will still likely have a lot of points. Duncanville is deeper and more talented and this could be the game that sets the tone for the rest of their season. I'll go with Duncanville over Lincoln by four, 77-73.
ESPN has a schedule of 15 games that it will televise in the 2008-2009 high school boys' basketball season. Of those, just one if on regular old ESPN, not ESPN2 (four of the games) or ESPNU (10 of the games), but the original. That showdown is tonight, in a battle of two of America's best teams—both of which are public schools—Lincoln (NY) and Duncanville (TX), in what will be ESPN's second televised game of the year, as it is the back end of a double header, with Bishop McGuinness (OK) and Putnam City (OK) facing off just before on ESPNU. Lincoln is led by ultra-talented Lance Stephenson, a physical specimen who plays the wing position. The Railsplitters also have Maryland-bound big man James Padgett '09, Darwin "Buddha" Ellis '09, and Shaquille Stokes '11, but not much else. Duncanville features six high-major ballers: Texas-signee Shawn Williams '09, future Oklahoma State Cowboys Reger Dowell '09 and Roger Franklin '09, Baylor-commit Perry Jones '10, Julian Washburn '10, and Jamison Sterns. Duncanville began the year as the number one team in America in the rankings put out by ESPN Rise, PrepNation, and USA Today, but has already lost two games this season, and is now ranked 10, 7, and 19 respectively. Meanwhile, Lincoln, which is undefeated, is ranked 6, 4, and 2 respectively by the trio of sites.
So yes, Duncanville is struggling a bit thus far with two losses and Lincoln is ranked higher, but I see this game going in favor of the squad from Texas. The game is being played in th Lone Star State, which gives Williams, Franklin, and Co. an advantage. Also, Stephenson may not be as affective as usual, as Williams and Franklin should be able to due a solid job of guarding him, though he will still likely have a lot of points. Duncanville is deeper and more talented and this could be the game that sets the tone for the rest of their season. I'll go with Duncanville over Lincoln by four, 77-73.
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