Johnie Logue
Sports Reporter
The icy mix of winter weather pushed the boys championship game a week later to Sunday. Lincoln had played on Thursday and Friday and didn't want to play three games in a row, so Sunday at 3:00 it was all set to go.
The Lincoln Cardinals had lost to Smithton at home on December 13, 46-35. Lincoln, seeded third, faced the number one seed Smithton Tigers and Mr. Tom Tripp. Tripp had 28 points but the Cardinals slowed the game down and held the supporting cast in check in claiming a 54-51 victory and the championship.
Kaleb Mundy hit two big free throws down the stretch to preserve the win. Lincoln faltered some from the line in the fourth as they were just 8-16 but Mundy and Kyle Eckhoff would save the day at the end.
So what was the difference from the first game? Certainly, the presence of Connor Lynde back in the lineup helped as he had 14 points and seems to be their calming influence and he gives them another scorer, rebounder and ball handler. Lynde had hit two big fourth quarter shots against number two seeded Slater to put Lincoln in the championship game in the semi-final matchup several days before.
It was 13-12 after one with the Cardinals in the lead. It was 24-19 at the half. In the third, Lincoln increased their lead to 36-27. Tripp, with four fouls, never scored in the third. In the fourth, he came out on fire and finished with 12 in the quarter as they cut the lead, outscoring Lincoln 24-18 in the frame but came up three points short in the end.
Asked about the difference in the two games, coach Tyler Burke said, "We jumped on them early this time leading 9-4. We weren't prepared for their 3-2 zone in the first game.This time we were ready."
Eckhoff led Lincoln with 18 points. The Cards moved to 8-5 on the season.
SMITHTON (51): Tripp, 28; A. Welch, 7; Neslor, 6; Z. Welch, 2; Shull, 8.
LINCOLN (54): Eckhoff, 18; Lynde, 14; Mundy, 7; Hesse, 12; Smalllwood, 3.
