Lincoln Boys Survive Late Technical

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Lincoln senior Dalton Lee, shown competing against Shiloh Christian, puts up a shot underneath the goal. The Wolves lost at Shiloh Christian, 72-42, Jan. 24, then rebounded with a 48-45 victory at Haas Hall on Thursday.
MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Lincoln senior Dalton Lee, shown competing against Shiloh Christian, puts up a shot underneath the goal. The Wolves lost at Shiloh Christian, 72-42, Jan. 24, then rebounded with a 48-45 victory at Haas Hall on Thursday.

FAYETTEVILLE -- The Lincoln boys basketball team survived a late intentional foul call, one of two second-half technicals in winning, 48-45, in 3A/4A District 1 play at Haas Hall Thursday.

Lincoln coach Tim Rich said his boys kept their cool and didn't allow Haas Hall to capitalize after Hass Hall cut the Wolves lead to three, then in-bounded with a chance to tie following the technical.

"You've got to know the situation," Rich said. "They did get a look at a three, but we had a hand in their face."

The Wolves struggled early, trailing 9-6 after the first quarter, but played better as the game progressed in stark contrast to a Dec. 16 loss of 13 points (64-51) at home to Haas Hall. In that contest the Wolves were outscored 51-34 over the first three quarters.

"That was one of our worst shooting nights of the season," Rich said. "If you don't get it in the hole, it's hard to win."

The Wolves eventually played better Thursday.

"We had some dribble penetration and some kick-outs, overall we had much better ball movement," Rich said. "Brance Sugg led us with 13 points. Bryce Means had another good night with 12 points. Troy Sugg had 10 points. Dalton Lee had seven points and he had a great night on the boards."

Lincoln rallied in the second quarter, outscoring the Mastiffs 12-8 to edge in front, 18-17 at the half. Late in the third quarter Haas Hall junior Rhett Owen was fouled with a technical tacked on. He made four straight free throws to tie the game at 28-28, but 32 seconds later Bryce Means answered for Lincoln by swishing a 3-pointer from the wing. The Wolves held a 34-30 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Neither team could find the hoop for the first 3:08 of the period although Owen had a basket erased 10 seconds prior. The no-basket was big, ending a scramble. Haas Hall missed in the paint and got two more shots up before Lincoln could grab a rebound, which was promptly stolen by Owen, who put a shot in that was disallowed.

Dalton Lee came back by knocking down an 18-feet jump-shot on the wing and Lincoln had a chance to extend the lead even more, but Matthew Kisor blocked a shot in the lane for Haas Hall. After three points by the Mastiffs, Means drove the lane, drew help-defenders to him and dished off to Brance Sugg floating to the basket on the baseline. Brance Sugg's bucket was critical, keeping the 38-33 lead at two scores.

Owen got the ball in the post, spun right and got to the rack for a layup as he battled to keep Haas Hall close. Means then made the first of two free throws for Lincoln and Troy Sugg put in the missed second. Owen was the go-to-guy for Haas Hall and made 2 of 2 free throws, keeping the Mastiffs within, 41-37, at the 2:45 mark.

Lincoln again went to the line but missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Harrison Swayne claimed the rebound and dribbled out drawing another foul and making a free throw. Kisor scored inside for Haas Hall, narrowing Lincoln's lead to 44-41 with just over a minute left. Lincoln finally got into the double-bonus and Brent Crews made the Mastiffs pay by making both charity shots. Haas Hall in-bounded wasting no time in pushing an attack only to have the ball stolen by Means, who stepped into the passing lane. He sank a free throw lifting the Wolves to another six-point lead of 47-41.

Cody Tidwell came down with an offensive rebound to give Haas Hall a second chance and Adam Corral dribbled around a defender to make a layup, slicing Lincoln's lead to 47-43. Swayne was fouled on the in-bounds play and made a free throw giving Lincoln a five-point cushion.

The next Haas Hall possession was wild. Trailing the play, Owen was set up for an open 3-point look, but shot an airball. The basketball was tipped into the air twice as both teams scrambled for the rebound. At last a Lincoln player wrapped his hands around the ball with his feet planted on the court, but he was hurled to the floor. Somehow out of that contested action, a technical was assessed against Lincoln. Once more Owen stepped to the foul line, but couldn't make all the free throws this time and Lincoln escaped with a 48-45 win.

Lincoln 48, Haas Hall 45

Lincoln^6^12^16^14^--^48

Haas Hall^9^8^13^15^--^45

Sports on 02/01/2017