LINCOLN -- Murphy's law seemed to rule the court, yet Lincoln's girls basketball program ended last season on a bit of an upswing despite a 54-35 first-round district tournament loss.
To come out of the regular season finale with an upset of conference-leader West Fork was almost miraculous considering all the adversity stacked against the Lincoln girls during the 2016-2017 season. They lost 11 games by six points or less, seven of those by three or fewer points, suffering a 9-game losing streak.
The last play of a Nov. 29 loss at West Fork (43-42) exemplified the kind of year they experienced. Pressuring the ball, Libby Calico stole an in-bounds pass and handed the ball off to Hollie Webb, who laid the ball in at the buzzer, but two points weren't enough. Lincoln needed three.
There was trouble off the court.
Former head coach Brian Davenport was fired along with an assistant coach in January following a 36-35 loss on Jan. 24 at Shiloh Christian, the final loss of a 9-game skid. Stan Karber, assistant principal at Lincoln Middle School and strength and conditioning coach for the football program, was named interim head coach. Karber found a way to stop the bleeding. He successfully challenged the team to channel their emotions into positive energy, which they did in beating Haas Hall, 55-28, on Jan. 26 avenging an earlier, 46-41, loss to Haas Hall on Dec. 16. The losing streak was over, but Karber wasn't satisfied with that. He and then-intern Michelle Lumsargis guided the Lady Wolves to pull off another coup by knocking off West Fork, which nearly ran the table in conference play.
There was more good news after the season. Kendra Cummings drew the respect of coaches around the 4A-1 and was named All-State. She officially extended her basketball career to the next level -- signing a national letter of intent to play women's college basketball with Central Baptist College in March.
On April 17, the Lincoln school board hired a new head girls basketball coach in Emilianne Slamons and hired Lumsargis as an assistant coach.
Nine months have passed since the 2016-2017 Lincoln girls basketball season ended Feb. 13 with a 54-35 elimination from the district tournament by Huntsville. That's sufficient time for a lot of water to run under the bridge; and for motivation to set in among a team determined to show they are better than its 5-22 record from last year.
Slamons inherits a core group of multiple-sport athletes. Junior Jessica Goldman plays guard at 5-10, knows how to slash to the basket, can spot-up from 3-point territory, handles the ball well and is accurate at the free throw line. Seniors Madison Jones (5-9) and Hollie Webb (5-7) play up front. Hollie Webb can step outside to shoot an occasional trifecta as can her younger sister Kinley Webb (5-6 sophomore guard) and senior Tristan Cunningham (5-8 guard).
Calico (5-3 junior guard), Averi Massey (5-3 junior guard), Allison Cunningham (5-9 junior forward) and sophomore Abigail Goldman (5-8) saw action last year and represent individual integral components Slamons will find versatile in various lineup combinations. Seniors Katie Lankford (5-3 guard) and Kali Brewer (5-7 forward) contribute while sophomores Tanner Robb (5-6 forward) and Robin Kirk (5-10 post) add size along the front line.
Lincoln dropped their season-opener, 49-41, at Charleston Nov. 7; then lost once and won twice last week while competing in the Queens of the Court tournament hosted by Green Forest. Shiloh Christian beat the Lady Wolves, 44-33, in the semifinals Nov. 8. Lincoln got past Marshall, 60-49, in the consolation bracket and advanced to a consolation, 61-49, win over Green Forest.
Sports on 11/15/2017