Lincoln boys wins thriller

The Division III Southern League Calvary Chapel Lions came to the Rick Phillips Gymnasium on Jan. 7 to challenge the Lincoln County High School Lynx basketball team in the league opener for both teams. The Lynx were victorious in the game, winning 60-59.

The Lynx opened the game with a 4-0 lead before giving up four points to the Lions on fouls. At the 4:55 mark in the first period Lincoln went on a nine-point run started off by a Mike Woods three pointer. Calvary Chapel came back and took over the lead with 1:10 left on the clock in the first. But Derek Shumway closed out the first period scoring from the floor to give the Lynx a 20-17 lead.

In the second period Calvary Chapel?s Christopher Basilio tied the score on a three point shot but just over one minute later, Cameron Frehner answered with a three point bucket for his own. The Lions would retake the lead and entered the locker room at the end of the half with a 36-31 lead over the Lynx.

Lincoln opened the third period with possession and rang up two quick buckets followed by a three pointer from McClain O?Connor to tie the score at 38. Calvary Chapel responded with two three pointers, and O?Connor answered with another three pointer of his own. Calvary Chapel did a good job of controlling the ball and the tempo for the remainder of the third period and found themselves with a five point lead at the end of the third with a score of 48-43.

O?Connor opened the final period with a three point shot followed by two consecutive buckets by Kevin Jacques to give the Lynx a 50-48 lead. Calvary Chapel?s Killen Diers tied it up 52 all at the 4:11 mark.

Lincoln again took the lead with a score of 58-54 with :51 seconds remaining in the game. Calvary Chapel responded with a three pointer to close the lead to one with :37 seconds on the clock, but Lincoln responded with another bucket to extend their lead to three with 18 seconds remaining. The Lions were tenacious and put in another bucket to close within one but the Lynx were able to hold on for the 60-59 win in their first league match-up.

McClain O?Connor had another double figure performance scoring 22 for the Lynx. Derek Shumway was also in double digits adding 15 points to the Lincoln County total. Chris Basilio rang up 26 for Calvary Chapel and Matthew Harney contributed 15 to the Lions effort.

Next the Lynx travel to Las Vegas for a matchup against Mountain View on Jan. 10, followed by Agassi Prep on Jan. 11.