Lincoln coach Brian Davenport's halftime message sparked the Lady Wolves into a third quarter explosion.
After trailing Gravette, 19-16, at intermission, Lincoln put up nearly twice as many points in one quarter than they had for the entire first half while holding Gravette to 4 points in the third and for good measure outscored the Lady Lions, 16-13, in the fourth. Overall Lincoln totalled 45 seccond half points compared to 17 for Gravette over the final two periods.
The complete turnaround in the game was sparked by 21 points from point guard Jaycie Neeley and 15 from Ashtyn Rothrock. No Gravette player reached double figures although Maddie Foster and Chasity Hubbard scored 9 points apiece. With the win Lincoln improves to 9-4 overall and 1-0 in the 4A-1 Conference. Davenport won the first league contest he coached in since taking over the girls program last spring.
Girls - Dec. 16
Lincoln 61, Gravette 36
Lincoln^11^5^29^16^--^61
Gravette^7^12^4^13^--^36
Lincoln (9-4, 1-0): Jaycie Neeley 21, Ashtyn Rothrock 15, Madison Rich 7, Lexington Dobbs 6, Courtney Lloyd 5, Kendra Cummings 3, Rynn NeSmith 2, Sydney Brewer 2,
Gravette (3-7, 0-1): Maddie Foster 9, Chasity Hubbard 9, Sydney Hicks 6, Samantha Linn 3, Stephanie Pinter 3, Kayla Kardynalski 2, Jaye Chalk 2, Robin Davis 1, Ella Duke 1.
Last season Gravette had the best player in the 4A-1 in scoring machine Terrence Pierce, who combined with 6-foot-7 Otto Troutner to provide a potent inside-outside scoring punch. This season Lincoln figured to have the best player in 6-foot-9 Shandon "Biggie" Goldman, whose long-range shooting and ball-handling skills are drawing attention from Division I universities.
For Gravette Pierce and Troutner graduated and coach Dustin Peters moved on; while Lincoln also graduated 8 of their top 9 players from last year's state tournament team. First-year Gravette coach Greg White has successfully motivated his squad by using the psychology of matching up against Goldman twice this season.
Lincoln lost for the second time to Gravette this season, 64-57, on Dec. 16 with Goldman held to 9 points. Garrett Blankenship scored 18 points playing in the paint and guard Alec Pitts posted 16 but that was not enough to offset a 31-point barrage from the Lions' Jackson Soule and Lincoln dropped their 4A-1 opener.
The Wolves have not fared well against Arkansas 59 schools thus far this season having lost, 52-50, after blowing a 15-point lead against Gravette in the Decatur tournament on Dec. 4, then losing, 47-44, in overtime to Decatur in the consolation bracket on Dec. 5.
Boys - Dec. 5
Gravette 52, Lincoln 50
Gravette 9 9 13 21 -- 52
Lincoln 15 12 9 14 -- 50
Gravette (2-3): Andrew Miller 14, Austin White 12, Kyle Fox 12, Zac Carlton 6, Cole Turner 5, Jackson Soule' 3.
Lincoln (4-1): Shandon Goldman 16, Garrett Blankenship 10, Dalton Barnum 10, Harrison Swayne 6, Alec Pitts 5, Cord McCaslin 3.
Boys - Dec. 16
Gravette 64, Lincoln 57
Lincoln^14^7^14^22^--^57
Gravette^13^19^16^16^--^64
Lincoln (5-4, 0-1): Garrett Blankenship 18, Alec Pitts 16, Shandon Goldman 9, Dalto Barnum 7, Cord McCaslin 5, Harriso Swayne 2.
Gravette (5-4, 1-0): Jackson Soule 31, Cole Turner 12, Kyle Fox 9, Zac Carlton 6, Dustin Morgan 6.
Sports on 12/24/2014