Sought-After Win

LINCOLN GIRLS SACK SHILOH CHRISTIAN

SPRINGDALE — The Lincoln girls basketball team at long last achieved a much sought-after win over one of the 4A-1 teams which has been its nemesis, Shiloh Christian.

Lincoln (5-6), which will revert to its former conference, the 3A-1, once the current school year is over in all sports except football, picked up a 54-48 victory over the Lady Saints on Tuesday, Dec. 12. The breakthrough win ended Lincoln’s 5-game losing streak to Shiloh Christian (5-4), including a 44-33 loss earlier this season on Nov. 8 during the Green Forest Queens of the Court tournament.

The Lady Wolves used an 18-10 scoring advantage in the second quarter to pull away from a slim 10-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. Lincoln led 28-19 at halftime and didn’t allow the Lady Saints to trim that much in the second half. Lincoln owned a 37-28 lead after three quarters of play and although Shiloh Christian produced 19 points in the fourth quarter, the Lady Wolves were nearly equal to the task by scoring 17 of their own.

Lincoln enjoyed balanced scoring topped by Jessica Goldman with 15 points. Libby Calico added 9, and a trio of Lady Wolves chipped in 8 points apiece, Tristan Cunningham, Averi Massey, and Robin Kirk. Hollie Webb, 4, and Tania Ortiz, 2, rounded out the scoring.

The Lady Wolves suffered a pair of heartbreaking losses to Shiloh Christian earlier this year. On Jan. 5, Lincoln led at home 39-28 after three quarters, but was outscored 23-12 in the fourth and the game went into overtime where they lost 57-55. A rematch in Springdale again went down to the wire before the Lady Wolves lost 36-35 on Jan. 24. Shiloh Christian swept the Lincoln girls in 2016, winning 62-39 at Lincoln and 46-40 at home.

Prior to the Dec. 12 victory, Lincoln’s last win against the Saints goes back to a Feb. 6, 2015, win (45-29) for the Lady Wolves on the road. They also won by a 56-32 score against Shiloh on Jan. 13, 2015 at home. Lincoln’s record against Shiloh Christian in the last 10 meetings between the schools stands at 4-6, which includes a pair of meetings when the schools were in different classifications.

In Lincoln’s first year, 2012-2013, as a member of the 4A-1 Conference, Shiloh was in 5A. The Lady Wolves beat Shiloh Christian in a high-scoring contest, 73-65, on Nov. 19, 2013. The teams also met during Lincoln’s last year as a member of the 3A-1 with Shiloh (4A-1) squeaking by 45-43. In that game, Rochelle Goldman, older sister of Jessica Goldman, played for Lincoln.

In the last 10 games between the teams decided by two points, Lincoln is 0-for-3. The Lady Wolves are even (1-1) in games decided by six points. Lincoln’s largest margin of victory is 24 points (56-32), while Shiloh Christian’s biggest winning margin is 23 points (62-39). Despite Shiloh Christian’s having the edge in wins, Lincoln actually has put more points on the scoreboard (473 to 464).