LINCOLN — The Lincoln girls needed nearly a half to get going offensively Tuesday night.
That was still good enough to defeat Cedarville, which fell 58-43 to the Lady Wolves in a non-conference game. Hayle Sugg scored 20 points and Shebly Rowe 17 for Lincoln (3-4), which led 24-19 at halftime.
The first half was an array of turnovers, missed shots, and even a free throw that failed to hit the rim. But Lincoln finally began to convert on offense after Sarah Siffing scored consecutive baskets off a rebound and drive to the basket. The baskets loosened up the outside for Jaycie Neeley and Taylor Cunningham, who followed with 3-pointers.
Lincoln continued its momentum in the second half, where the Lady Wolves outscored Cedarville by 10 points.
“This (game) was only the sixth quarter of basketball we’ve played in three weeks,” Lincoln coach Deon Birkes said. “It was like we finally remembered what to do. Sarah did a good of rebounding and she and Taylor both gave us some solid minutes.”
Cedarville tied the game 29-29 in the third quarter on a 3-point basket by Jordan Knight, who finished with 10 points. But Sugg and Rowe combined for 10 consecutive points to put Lincoln ahead again 39-34. Madison Rich followed with a 3-pointer and Neeley scored again to extend the lead to 47-35 early in the fourth quarter.
“Shelby Hayle, they’re our senior leaders,” Birkes said. “They’ve played in regional and state tournament games and they know what it’s all about.”
The game started out like on Monday, when Lincoln beat Gentry 29-26 in a low-scoring conference game. Both teams were ragged, especially Cedarville (1-8), which managed only to hit the bottom of the backboard on a couple of inside attempts.
That slow start proved harmful for the Lady Pirates, who finally reached 11 points after two free throws by Bailie Murphy with six minutes left before the half.
Murphy finished with 12 points and Knight 10 points to lead Cedarville.
“We didn’t shoot well and we didn’t play smart,” Cedarville coach Jody Fincher said. “That was the difference in the game.”
Cedarville finished 14 of 20 from the free-throw line while Lincoln was 13 of 17.
BOYS
LINCOLN 48, CEDARVILLE 42
Colton Barnum and Ossy Escareno each scored 10 points to lead Lincoln (4-0) past Cedarville.
The Pirates got to within 44-42 after a 3-pointer by Alex Cantrell with less than a minute to play. Peyton Hulse then made two free throws and Barnum scored on a breakaway layup after Cedarville missed inside.
Cantrell finished with 12 points and Garrett Parson 10 to lead Cedarville, which was only 4 of 15 from the line. Lincoln was 7 of 14.