WESTVILLE, Okla. -- Scrappy and undersized Westville, Okla., Yellowjackets neutralized Lincoln's height advantage in dishing out a 53-34 season-opening loss to the Wolves in nonconference boys basketball Friday, Nov. 16, 2018.
The Yellowjackets floated around the paint like butterflies consistently deflecting and stealing passes into the post, then stinging Lincoln at the other end of the court with fast-break layups and 3-pointers.
Westville's surge began in the last minute of the first half after Lincoln took a 20-16 lead on Chase Hutchens' eighth point when he drilled a 3-pointer from the top-of-the-key. The Yellowjackets scored twice in the last 20 seconds getting a putback by Toss Fourkiller followed by Cameron McCollum's steal and layup to even the score, at 20-all going into the locker room.
The third quarter started slowly for both teams before Westville fashioned an 18-5 run over the next 5:08 to seize control of the game. Haydn Kaiser got open for a 3-pointer in the corner on an in-bounds play at the 6:41 mark. Fifteen seconds later McCollum knocked down a 15-footer following a Lincoln turnover against Yellowjacket pressure.
Caleb Hale, who topped Lincoln with 12 points sank a pair of foul shots, but Westville was feeling the groove. McCollum hit a trey from the left wing. Daytin Davis answered with an old-fashioned 3-point play for the Wolves, keeping Lincoln within 28-25. The Yellowjackets then reeled off 10 straight points.
Adam Sanchez sank a high-arching 18-foot jumper from the left corner, Ethan Barton turned an offensive rebound underneath the basket into a reverse layup and McCollum singed the nets from the left wing for another trifecta. Fourkiller found his range from the same spot and Westville opened up a 38-25 lead with 1:33 to go in the third.
Westville held a 42-29 advantage going into the fourth quarter and outscored Lincoln 11-5 in the final period to pull off a 53-34 win.
McCollum led the Yellowjackets with 16 points. He was joined in double figures by Kaiser and Barton with 10 apiece while Fourkiller chipped in 7.
Hutchens had 9 points for Lincoln, but only 1 after halftime.
Westville, Okla., 53, Lincoln 34
Lincoln^9^8^9^5 -- 34
Westville^8^12^22^11 -- 53
Lincoln (0-1): Caleb Hale 4 4-5 12, Chase Hutchens 3 1-2 9, Daytin Davis 2 2-2 6, Adam Keith 1 2-2 4, Clark Griscom 1 1-5 3, 0 0-1 0. Totals 11 11-17 34.
Westville (1-0): Cameron McCollum 6 1-2 16, Haydn Kaiser 3 3-5 10, Ethan Barton 4 0-1 10, Toss Fourkiller 3 0-0 7, Adam Sanchez 2 0-0 4. Totals 20 6-12 53.
3-point goals -- Lincoln 2 (Hutchens 2). Westville 7 (McCollum 3, Barton 2, Fourkiller, Kaiser).
Fouls -- Lincoln 7, Westville 10.
Lincoln 59, Decatur 32
An early 4-4 tie dissolved quickly with Lincoln scoring the game's next 14 points to jump out to an 18-4 first quarter lead. Lincoln's defense created turnovers leading to fast-break opportunities the Wolves repeatedly cashed in.
The run began when Sterling Morphis ripped the ball out of the hands of a Decatur player and immediately looked down-court finding Davis with the outlet. Davis sailed in for a layup to put the Wolves ahead 6-4. Lincoln never looked back.
Fortyone seconds later Cole Griscom knocked down a 3-pointer. Adam Keith added an old-fashioned 3-point play on a run-out left-handed layup. Morphis capped the run taking a cross-court pass from Keith and snapping a trey from the wing.
Decatur made a little headway. Early in the second quarter the Bulldogs trailed 18-10, but Lincoln forged a 12-2 run.
Davis' coast-to-coast trip ended with a layup off his steal. Chase Hutchens tipped a pass resulting in another Davis steal. His outlet found Morphis, who unselfishly gave up the ball to Keith going in for a layup.
After a Decatur time-out, Keith drove hard to the bucket then passed off to Hutchens open for a 3-pointer. With just under five-and-a-half minutes to play in the second quarter, Davis rebounded, took a couple dribbles, then threw the basketball to Keith for an uncontested layup and 30-12 Lincoln lead.
Davis led Lincoln (1-1) with 11 points. Kyle Job and Morphis added 10 points apiece.
Kevin Garcia led Decatur with 7 points.
Lincoln 59, Decatur 32
Decatur^4^12^22^11 -- 32
Lincoln^18^8^9^5 -- 59
Decatur (1-0): Kevin Garcia 7.
Lincoln (1-1): Daytin Davis 11, Sterling Morphis 10, Kyle Job 10, Adam Keith 5, Chase Hutchens 3, Cole Griscom 3, Cam Brown 3.
Elkins 68, Lincoln 37
With the win over Decatur Lincoln advanced to face Elkins in the tournament final last Wednesday, Nov. 21. The Wolves didn't fare well against the Elks, losing 68-37.
Elkins 68, Lincoln 37
Elkins^23^19^19^7 -- 68
Lincoln^7^8^6^16 -- 37
Sports on 11/28/2018