By Mark Humphrey
ENTERPRISE-LEADER
LINCOLN -- Sophomore Kendra Cummings scored more points in the third and fourth quarters than Lincoln's opponent, as the Lady Wolves limited Shiloh Christian to seven second-half points.
Cummings notched 13 of her game-high 20 points in the second-half during Lincoln's 56-32 conference win over the visiting Saints on Jan. 13. The sophomore made 6 of 7 free throw attempts and made a 3-pointer in spite of being fouled by Shiloh's Jody Sandefur to break a Lincoln scoring drought 2:06 into the third. Forty seconds later Courtney Lloyd received a pass on the baseline for a layup extending the margin to 42-27 and Shiloh never seriously threatened again.
Cummings hit both ends of a 1-and-1 and banked in a shot high off the backboard later in the period, which ended with Lincoln ahead 48-30. The Saints managed only a single Blaire Taylor field goal late in the fourth, which was more than offset by six points from Cummings down the stretch.
"Kendra is a sophomore who had a great summer where she improved her skills. She has become a go-to player," said Lincoln coach Brian Davenport. "I love having her come off the bench. She really gives us a spark both offensively and defensively."
Lincoln earned separation on the scoreboard with a 13-0 run covering 2:24 of the first quarter. Sandefur tied the game at 5-5 with a 3-point shot at the 4:36 mark of the period, only to have Lincoln's Jaycie Neeley answer with a trifecta of her own 12 seconds later.
In a sequence which excited Lincoln fans, Taylor Cunningham stole a rebound out of the hands of a Shiloh defender. Doing a tap dance on the baseline she stayed in-bounds and cleared the ball to Neeley. The Lady Wolves speedily reversed the ball to Cummings on the left wing where she drilled a 3-pointer.
Shiloh broke the run with Kendyl Ruiz's free throws, but Ashtyn Rothrock kept up Lincoln's hot streak from long-range with a 3-point shot, then scored going down the lane to beat the buzzer. Lincoln led 23-11 at the quarter break and maintained a 12-point advantage at the half. The win snapped a two-game losing streak for Lincoln in the 4A-1.
"We were in a situation where we needed to get back on a winning track," Davenport said. "You just have to go back and see what you didn't do well and keep your confidence level high. Defensively was where we needed to tighten up and we did that. You just have to come in every day, practice and make your weaknesses strengths."
Davenport, who is in his first year at Lincoln, now has seen every team in the league. He says the 4A-1 is a real strong girls basketball conference.
"It's a very-well coached conference. You have to study game film and you have to be prepared cause you'll be up against a quality coach every time you step on the floor."
Lincoln 56, Shiloh Christian 32
Shiloh 11 14 5 2 -- 32
Lincoln 23 14 11 8 -- 56
Shiloh Christian (0-13, 0-5): Jodi Sandefur 1 0-0 3, Veronica Adams 3 2-4 8, Kendyl Ruiz 3 3-4 9, Blaire Taylor 1 3-6 5, Avery Goode 0 1-2 1, Destinie Meadors 2 0-0 4. Totals 15 10-13 41.
Lincoln (12-6, 3-2): Madison Rich 1 2-3 4, Taylor Cunningham 1 0-0 3, Courtney Lloyd 3 3-4 10, Jaycie Neeley 3 2-2 10, Ashytn Rothrock 2 0-0 5, Kendra Cummings 6 6-7 20. Totals 17 13-17 56.
3-point goals -- Shiloh Christian 1 (Sandefur). Lincoln 7 (Neeley 2, Cummings 2, Cunningham, Lloyd, Rothrock).
Sports on 01/21/2015