Experienced Zebras basketball team hopes for league championship

After 10 seasons under Robert Ash, the Lincoln High Fighting Zebras will now play under a new head coach, Jon Wallace, who has an experienced roster that hopes to become Foothill Valley League champions once again. "Our league is always unpredictable, but for my senior season, I'm going for league most valuable player and hopefully a league championship," senior Jake Overbay said. "I also want this team to get far in the playoffs, which I think is doable." Overbay is one of three seniors who were on the 2019-20 league championship team. He was the Zebras' second leading scorer last season in the spring with 11 points per game while senior Josh Alarcon led in rebounds and assists with six and five, respectively. Wallace brings experience from playing the game at the Division III level at Lincoln Christian University in Illinois where he graduated in 2010. Wallace moved to California after graduation and stepped away from the game to do personal training before getting back into it coaching recreational and youth leagues. While some might feel the pressure of being a new coach at a successful program, Wallace is staying calm and composed. "We are going to do what we're gonna do and I really appreciate Ash and what he did to make the handoff smooth," Wallace said. "Obviously, I want to win but we only live life once and we make an impact every day in our lives. I want to make a positive impact and serve the community." Lincoln is returning its leading scorer, junior Beni Njomo who averaged 12 points per game in the Zebras' 14 contests last season. Sophomore Jacob Gilchrist was the third leading scorer with 10 per game and he will also be returning. "The experience is super valuable and the word on the street is Lincoln is the team to beat," Wallace said. "The chemistry our players have will be super effective when we come across bigger schools." The Zebras' preseason consists of tough Sierra Foothill League opponents in Rocklin and Whitney, along with the reigning Capital Valley Conference champions of Woodcreek, before starting league play on Jan. 4. "Stacking the schedule early with talent is super important because the harder teams we play, the better we become," Wallace said. "Iron sharpens iron." While the Zebras had a lot of talent and experience in the spring, there are still areas where players have become even better in the offseason. "I find my mid range has gotten a lot better, being able to pull up whenever in the lane," Overbay said. Lincoln will begin their season on Nov. 19 against San Juan High at home. Coach Ash hopes to set Rhinos up for success Coach Robert Ash has transitioned to Twelve Bridges High School to begin the boys' basketball program and hopes to show his new players how to compete. The Raging Rhinos roster consists of 13 sophomores, four of whom played as freshman on the Lincoln junior varsity team that went 11-2 in the spring. Those four players are Jack Kendall, James Sweet, Nick Ochoa and Angelo Camba and Ash is looking to them and Aaron Oriel to help lead his squad this season. "We want to compete in every single game but our short term goals are what it looks like," Ash said. "How will we win the rebounding battle, limit turnovers, set things like how to get to the free throw line? Long term, we aren't playing for the playoffs and we just want to get better so that when they are juniors next year, we hope they did good enough this year to be a competitive product." The Rhinos' non-league schedule features teams such as Rocklin, Chico and Rio Linda before they begin Pioneer Valley League play on Jan. 10. "I think the matchups we have in the preseason will be great because it will give me some good experience playing some tougher players and teams," Oriel said. "It will also show me things that are working for other guards that I can use." Despite not being able to play as a full unit and lacking some experience, some players have strengths and big goals for the season ahead. "I want to average good stats across the board and be a good leader," Sweet said. "My strengths are driving and being in the post." Twelve Bridges will tip off their season on Nov. 20 on the road against Stagg.