Escareno Helps Wolves Upstage Rivals

Former Lincoln basketball Star Recognized As Male Athlete Of Year For 2014

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Ossy Escareno could handle the basketball with either hand which made him a difficult assignment for opponents to keep from driving to the goal. Escareno was named All-Conference and All-State and is 2014 Male Athlete of the Year at Lincoln as selected by the Enterprise-Leader.
MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Ossy Escareno could handle the basketball with either hand which made him a difficult assignment for opponents to keep from driving to the goal. Escareno was named All-Conference and All-State and is 2014 Male Athlete of the Year at Lincoln as selected by the Enterprise-Leader.

By Mark Humphrey

ENTERPRISE-LEADER

LINCOLN -- Senior Ossy Escareno served as a stabilizing influence on the court, holding Lincoln's 2014 state tournament basketball team's composure when the heat was on.

Escareno, a 3-year starter, is Male Athlete of the Year for 2014 at Lincoln. The Wolves won a share of the 2013-14 boys basketball conference title with Farmington but they had to beat their U.S. 62 rivals, Prairie Grove and Farmington, on back-to-back January nights to do so after winter weather rescheduled games.

"Those are two tough road trips. Prairie Grove and here [Farmington]. I'm always glad to come out of these places with a win," said Lincoln coach Tim Rich. "They are good teams, well-coached."

Lincoln led 48-41 at Prairie Grove with two minutes to go in regulation but the Tigers battled back. Leighton Smith nailed a 3-pointer and traded single free throw makes with Lincoln's Shandon Goldman. At the 1:02 mark, Payton Hulse sank both ends of the double bonus and Lincoln led by six, at 51-45. Thirty-seven seconds later, Prairie Grove got another 3-pointer by Parker Galligan, then fouled Goldman, who made 1-of-2.

With 14 seconds remaining, Galligan knocked down another trey making the score, 52-51. In the face of full-court pressure the in-bounds pass was thrown high and cross court but Hulse went up and got it, then was hammered and made both for a 54-51 Lincoln lead with only one second expired.

Prairie Grove redeemed the time and opportunity by quickly in-bounding to Ty Tice, who pushed the ball into the front court and called timeout with 10.6 seconds left. Tigers' coach Steve Edmiston set up a play with Galligan in-bounding to Tice. The Tigers momentarily lost the handle before Galligan received the ball and squared up from the top-of-the-key scoring with an off-balance 3-pointer rattling in at the buzzer and forcing overtime.

In overtime Escareno's cool enabled Lincoln to keep their composure and score the first five points of the extra stanza on Dylan McConnell's free throws and a 3-pointer by Escareno. Dylan Soehner hit a free-throw line set shot for Prairie Grove but Goldman answered with two charity shots. Prairie Grove beat the press by centering the ball to Soehner in the jump circle on the offensive end of the court. The 6-foot-6 sophomore showed his athleticism by passing to the wing, then cutting to the basket and scoring with the return pass.

Unfazed, Hulse converted a pair of foul shots. The Wolves then fouled Soehner on an identical press-breaker forcing him to make both but one shot misfired leaving the margin four points, at 63-59, which was stretched to six on two more Goldman free throws. The Wolves were 8-of-10 from the stripe in overtime and prevailed, 65-61

The next night inspired man-to-man defense by Farmington's Michael Ingram who consistently forced Goldman to pass off during Lincoln's 48-42 win over the Cardinals. A 7-2 run over the first 3:42 of the second quarter gave Lincoln a 20-10 advantage concluded by back-to-back buckets by Dylan McConnell. Farmington pounded the offensive boards to get back in the game. Ingram got blocked by Goldman but stayed with the play and drew a foul as he scored going back up. Later, Goldman grabbed a Wolf miss and used a quick dribble to score on the baseline with 1:18 to go before the half.

A hustle and heads-up play between Colton Barnum (offensive rebound) and Escareno (3-pointer) gave Lincoln a 33-30 lead going into the fourth quarter and the Wolves recaptured momentum after going without a point for more than seven minutes. Barnum used his body to shield the ball and scored in the paint with a jump hook. Farmington's Michael Ryan answered at the other end by putting in a Cardinal miss. Escareno responded by working his way to the hoop and a 37-32 Lincoln cushion.

Cardinal Matt Thomas, who was then a freshman and scored 12 points, came back with a jumper in the key. Lincoln then got the next two baskets. Barnum hit from 17-feet on the baseline, then saved a rebound on the ensuing Cardinal possession and McConnell beat Farmington in transition to push the Wolves in front, 41-34. Farmington rallied with an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to 43-42 getting 3-pointers from Jeremy Mueller and Thomas, sandwiched around a Mac Spears' put-back.

Farmington had a chance to go ahead but Thomas' trey rimmed out and Barnum rebounded for Lincoln. After a time-out, Escareno scored again for Lincoln and Brewer scored with the rebound of a missed free-throw to seal the game as Lincoln won, 48-42.

In the spring Escareno helped Lincoln win the 4A-1 Conference championship in baseball as an outfielder and counts his senior season, of 2013-2014, among his favorite moments in sports.

"This year we [Lincoln] won so many games in football and basketball and baseball. I just hope it can continue, just seeing all the fans enjoy it that's what I like."

His role models are dad and mom, Horacio Sr. and Martha Escareno, of Lincoln.

"My parents, they always taught me to do everything right and be a good person to everybody and to always try to help people and do the right thing."

When Lincoln needed to make something happen Rich pointed to Escareno's leadership.

"When you need something to happen, seems like he steps up, he's always there."

Sports on 01/21/2015