The Lincoln Christian boys basketball team had another solid season, making it to the area tournament with many new faces, leaders and contributors.

And recently, those players were honored for their performance by the Pinnacle Conference that helped Lincoln to a 13-16 record and a regional consolation championship.

"I was really excited for all of our guys that got recognized for their hard work and contributions to the team this season," said Lincoln head coach Jonathan Hopkins. "All-Conference selections are voted upon by all of the coaches in the Pinnacle Conference. Awards like these show that our guys earned the respect of our opponents."

The leader throughout the season for Lincoln was senior point guard Chandler Cozbey, who had a breakout final season as a Bulldog and was named first-team all-conference.

Cozbey led the team in scoring, averaging 13.7 points per game. He also dished out a team high 3.4 assists per game and chipped in 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game.

"Chandler showed a tremendous amount of improvement each year he was in our program, and capped off his senior year with first-team honors," said Hopkins. "Chandler was routinely double teamed and forced to give the ball up, but more times than not, he was still able to get to his spot."

Cozbey shot 45% from the floor while leading the team in field goal attempts. 

"When he wasn't scoring, he did a phenomenal job of putting his teammates in good spots to score. Chandler's will and determination was the driving force of our team all season long," said Hopkins.

Fellow senior guard Chase Jobe also had a big breakout final season in a Lincoln uniform, as he was a steady presence for the Bulldogs all year long and was named second-team all-conference.

Jobe averaged 12 points per game, while also grabbing four rebounds per contest and dishing out two assists per game. He averaged 1.7 steals per game, as well.

"Chase was another senior that improved every year, and grew into a huge role this year," said Hopkins. "He hardly came off the floor. His presence and the attention that he drew from opposing defenses made his teammates better."

Jobe shot a team-high 35% from three on a a team-leading 182 attempts, almost 80 more than the next closest teammate.

"Chase shot the ball really well for us from three this year," said Hopkins. "Chase routinely guarded the other teams best player. During our play-off run, he shot 15-for-25 from the 3-point line as well. Chase competed at a very high level this season."

Another senior, Jamie Ploch, was named honorable mention by the conference after battling through injuries to be the rock inside for Lincoln and Hopkins.

Ploch averaged 7.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in just 21 contests.

"Jamie just barely missed out on being named to third-team, and if he hadn't suffered a severe high-ankle sprain during the second half of conference play, he probably would have earned enough votes to make it," said Hopkins. "We were playing really good basketball as a team before we lost him for about three weeks."

Ploch shot 41% from the floor but made 54% of his shots from inside the arc as a senior.

"Thankfully he worked his way back through therapy and was available for our playoff run,"said Hopkins. "Jamie played an unsung role for us as he set screens, blocked out, moved the ball, and usually defended the other team's big man. Jamie is a true team player that filled a very unselfish role for us."

The departure of the three seniors will leave a hole for Hopkins and the program as they turn the page this offseason.

"We are going to miss all three seniors," Hopkins said. "Our program is better because of their contributions the last four years. We will definitely miss them."

A couple of underclassmen were also recognized with honorable mention honors and will be the leaders of the program when next season begins.

Junior forward Rain Ragland and sophomore forward Aiden Hendren both were huge contributors for Lincoln in 2025-26 and will be counted on even more in the coming year.

Ragland averaged just four points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game, as well as 1.2 steals per game, but played a much bigger role, bringing toughness and leadership to the team all year long.

"Rain was our glue guy," said Hopkins. "He made all of our different pieces stick together. He has a unique way of being a fiercely intense competitor while staying composed. You won't find a stronger more imposing presence on the basketball court at the 3A level."

Ragland shot 35% from three on just 26 attempts, making some big shots in big moments for Lincoln. He shot 41% from the floor in 22 games.

"He's another guy that unselfishly does whatever we need done on the floor," said Hopkisn. "He genuinely puts team success over individual success, and that's why I was grateful to him for coming back out this year after not playing as a sophomore."

Hendren was a huge breakout for Hopkins and company, as well, as the sophomore was deadly from three at times and provided a steady presence, as the only Bulldog who played in all 29 games.

He averaged 8.1 points and a team-high 5.2 rebounds per game, as well as 1.2 steals per game.

"I won't say Aiden came out of nowhere because he has played for us since elementary, but the role he played this season did come out of nowhere," said Hopkins. "He played a guard for the first time, and he did so at a high level."

Hendren shot 40% from the floor and 35% from three as a sophomore.

"At one point in the season, he was shooting 42% from three," said Hopkins. "And he was also our leading rebounder. Being a sophomore, he is just scratching the surface at how good he can be. I'm excited to see the jump he makes going into next year."



Photos by Lee Talley