Lincoln Williams' 28 points lead Kankakee past Thornwood

Kankakee overcomes slow start to defeat conference rival Thornwood

Jan. 30, 2026 at 10:31pm

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In their first home game in three weeks, the Kankakee boys basketball team got off to a slow start against Thornwood before picking things up in the second quarter and pulling away for a 72-61 victory. Lincoln Williams led the way with a game-high 28 points, while Kenaz Jackson added 18 points for Kankakee.

Why it matters

The win keeps Kankakee undefeated in Southland Athletic Conference play as they continue their push towards the postseason. The team's ability to overcome a sluggish start and pull away in the second half shows their resilience and ability to make in-game adjustments.

The details

Kankakee (18-1, 9-0 Southland) struggled early, missing several layups in the first half that allowed Thornwood (15-9, 3-6) to keep the game close. But the Kays exploded for 26 points in the third quarter to pull away. Williams had a dominant performance with 28 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks, while Jackson provided a scoring spark off the bench.

  • Kankakee was playing its first home game in three weeks on Friday night.
  • The win keeps Kankakee undefeated in Southland Athletic Conference play.

The players

Lincoln Williams

A standout player for Kankakee who scored a game-high 28 points in the win.

Kenaz Jackson

A key contributor off the bench for Kankakee, adding 18 points to complement Williams' big night.

Chris Pickett

The head coach of the Kankakee boys basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“The first quarter we were tired and it was tough. Second quarter we picked it up, came together and everything started falling for us.”

— Lincoln Williams

“We made layups, made baskets around the paint and that's how the first half would have gone if we would have made those. Sometimes you look at a game and try to analyze the details. Tonight wasn't that detailed. We missed too many layups in the first half.”

— Chris Pickett, Kankakee head coach

“He makes all of our jobs so much easier. He can (score) at all three levels, plays great defense and makes my job easier.”

— Lincoln Williams

What’s next

Kankakee will travel to Oak Lawn on Sunday to face Mount Carmel, before visiting Crete-Monee on Tuesday with a chance to clinch at least a share of the Southland Athletic Conference title.

The takeaway

Kankakee's ability to overcome a slow start and pull away in the second half shows the team's resilience and adaptability as they continue their push towards the postseason. The balanced scoring attack, led by standout performances from Lincoln Williams and Kenaz Jackson, demonstrates the Kays' offensive firepower and depth.