GENTRY — Colton Barnum powered to the basket and laid in a shot off the glass, drawing a foul in the process.
His free throw with 4 minutes, 46 seconds left in the third quarter completed the three-point play and punctuated a 13-2 run that led to a 60-37 mercy-rule win over Gentry on Tuesday in the first round of the 4A-1 District Tournament.
The Wolves (12-13) advance to take on Ozark at 8:30 p.m. today, where the winner will punch its ticket to next week’s 4A-North Regional Tournament in Maumelle.
Lincoln turned a close game into a runaway with a smothering full-court press in the third quarter. The Pioneers, who brought up several players from their district champion ninth grade team, were overmatched.
“We started out extremely well, then we had that little lull,” Lincoln coach Tim Rich said. “They responded in the third quarter and really put the pressure on them.”
Lincoln jumped to a 16-4 lead in the first quarter before the Pioneers (4-21) roared back behind freshman guard Wally Dane, who scored nine points in his varsity debut.
Gentry closed the first half on a flurry as Dane scored back-to-back buckets to pull the Pioneers within 25-17 at halftime.
“Those freshmen, they’re good basketball players,” Gentry coach Sean Price said. “They gave us a chance to do some different things and an opportunity to win. Our high school guys, they know that they’re good basketball players and they wanted them to play.”
But Gentry had no answer for Lincoln’s trio of Dylan McConnell (21 points), Ossy Escareno and Barnum, who scored 10 each.
The Wolves outscored Gentry 24-8 in the third quarter and invoked the 30-point mercy rule early in the fourth quarter.
“Shandon Goldman and McConnell, they hit some big shots early,” Rich said. “It always helps to get that window to open up and it extends them out and we have a team that hopefully will have a hot shooter every night. It doesn’t always seem to work out that way, but it did tonight.”
Lincoln split its two games with Ozark this season.
Lincoln 16 9 24 11 — 60
Gentry 8 9 8 12 — 37
Lincoln (12-13): McConnell 21, Escareno 10, Barnum 10, Goldman 6, Hulse 6, Simmons 3, Brewer 2, Guevara 2.
Gentry (4-21): Dane 9, White 6, Massie 6, Ellis 5, Barker 4, Page 3, Haag 2, Stoufflet 1, Faulkenberry 1.
GIRLS
Gentry 39, Gravette 38
Karoline Page hit a short jump shot with 15 seconds left, and Gentry held on to top Gravette.
Gravette had a chance at the end, but missed a short shot that rolled off the rim.
Freshman Haley Borgetein-James had 12 points for Gentry. Shelby Hammond had 11 and Tara Arnold 10.
Monica White led Gravette with 14 points and Destaney Wishon added 10.
Gentry will take on Lincoln at 4 p.m. today with the winner earning a ticket to next week’s 4A-North Regional Tournament.
4A-1 District Tournament
At Gentry
Girls
Tuesday’s Games
Game 1: Berryville 64, Pea Ridge 51
Game 2: Gentry 39, Gravette 38
Wednesday’s Games
Game 3: No. 3 Lincoln vs. Gravette, 4 p.m.
Game 4: No. 4 Ozark vs. Berryville, 7 p.m.
Friday’s Games
Game 5: No. 1 Prairie Grove vs. Game 4 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 6: No. 2 Farmington vs. Game 3 winner, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s Game
Championship
Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 6 p.m.
Boys
Tuesday’s Games
Game 1: Lincoln 60, Gentry 37
Game 2: Berryville vs. Prairie Grove (n)
Wednesday’s Games
Game 3: No. 3 Gravette vs. Game 2 winner, 5:30 p.m.
Game 4: No. 4 Ozark vs. Lincoln, 8:30 p.m.
Friday’s Games
Game 5: No. 1 Pea Ridge vs. Game 4 winner, 5:30 p.m.
Game 6: No. 2 Farmington vs. Game 3 winner, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday’s Game
Championship
Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 7:30 p.m.