By Bill Nestor
There is nothing like a night in Shinnston when the Cougars are playing. Cold weather gives way to a hot gym packed with hoop fans urging their team on, looking for a win to start the weekend off on a good note.
Lincoln was hosting Robert C. Byrd last Friday in the first lockup of the season for these squads. Veteran mentor Jordan Toth and his staff had a great game plan heading into the Big 10 battle and it helped them to a four point lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Cougars utilized a zone to slow down and frustrate the Flying Eagles. RCB had scored 97 points two nights prior against Phillip Barbour, but would only post eight points on the board in the first eighth minutes of play. Lincoln’s defense forced as many turnovers as points allowed in the opening frame, setting the stage for an action-packed matchup.
Offensively, the Cougars decided to go deep and it paid off in a big way. Lincoln hit three first quarter three-pointers, including a pair from senior Luke Joyce, setting the tone for the remainder of the game.
Flying Eagles’ issues were compounded as foul problems started to mount. Leading scorers Cam Newsaun and Manny Holmes were saddled with two fouls a piece, leaving teammates to try and crack the Lincoln defense. Behind three-pointers from Brody Barnes and Max Myers, the Cougars kept the pressure on the visitors until late in the second quarter.
RCB would need a spark off the bench and they would get one from freshman Elijah Holmes.
Holmes had hit a handful of three balls in the junior varsity game, so he was already primed and ready to go for varsity action. He would hit a three-pointer with half a minute left to give the Flying Eagles a 25 to 23 halftime lead.
The third quarter would bring an offensive explosion as both teams would combine to score 48 points, the same amount they combined to score in the entire first half. Joyce continued to bomb away, adding four threes in the third canto.
Rylee Dickerson was the go to guy for RCB netting 12 points in the period to match Joyce’s scoring barrage. It was the home team’s turn to deal with foul difficulties as super sophomore Cole Vincent picked up four fouls in the third quarter. Foul trouble and pressure define from the Flying Eagles combined to slow Lincoln just enough to give an edge to RCB heading into the final period of play.
Elijah Holmes scored eight fourth quarter points while Logan Boyce added seven to help the Flying Eagles garner the win.
Dickerson finished with 19, Elijah Holmes added 13, Boyce scored 12, and Manny Holmes chipped in with 10. Lincoln ended the game with an impressive 15 three pointers. Joyce had seven of them en route to a game high 21 points. Barnes called for threes and 14 total points while grabbing a team-high six rebounds. Vincent scored 12 points with the help of a pair of three-pointers. He also recorded three steals and a blocked shot.
It was a hard-fought, highly untested clash that showed both teams are not only talented enough, but also possess the will to win, which will serve them well at tournament time.
Until next time . . . take care and God Bless!