Trojans look for strong finish in postseason

After finishing with a district title, the Trojans are looking to go farther this season.
Photo courtesy of Trojans athletics

By Travis Milton

Outlook Writer

Just being in the state basketball playoff conversation last season wasn’t good enough for Coach Dimitric Salters, after his Lincoln basketball team made it to the Elite Eight.

“The expectations are the same,” Salters said. “To be state champs; that’s the main goal.”

Last season the Trojans’ postseason run ended with a 58-56 loss to Crestview. Salters blames the injury bug for the Trojans’ exit from the playoffs.

Their biggest loss was 6-foot-3 guard Kyle Kincey, who battled a quad injury and dislocated a knee during the playoffs. The Trojans also had to go without Camrin Knight, a two-sport athlete who was considering his football options.

“Those are two key components of what we were about that were missing,” Salters said, “but I applaud our guys for stepping up in those roles”

Salters is expecting his young players to grow up quickly.

Salters looks for the 6-foot-8 junior power forward/center Dwight Wilson to be a major contributor along with 6-foot sophomore guard Tionne Rollins to be able to learn the ropes and pick up more minutes for the team.

“Coach Salters pushes me to be the best that I can be and he sees a lot in me that I don’t even see in myself sometimes,” said Wilson, one of the young players Salters is counting on. “He sees that I can go farther than where I am now and that I can be able to play this game for a long time after now.”

This early in the season, there’s already a brotherhood of sorts building among the Trojans.

“Coach Salters is always pushing and motivating us,” said Kincey. “It’s not just about basketball with him, he wants us to develop into young men. It’s all a learning goal.”