Wolves Fall To No. 1 Pea Ridge

LINCOLN — The Wolves boys basketball came into a Jan. 30 contest at Pea Ridge with an opportunity to knock off the 4A-1 front runner.

Pea Ridge didn’t allow that to happen as the Blackhawks defeated Lincoln, 68-44, on the way to claiming a second straight conference championship.

The Blackhawks jumped out to an early lead of 16-4 after the first period and Lincoln was never able to make a serious run. Hayden Holtgrewe and Kobe Rose sparked Pea Ridge’s offense with first period treys. Nick Coble and Mikey Mahoney tossed in a pair of field goals each. Rose also added a 2-point field goal. Lincoln’s Caleb Hale scored twice but was the only guy who scored for the Wolves.

Five Wolves scored in the second quarter as Lincoln spread the ball around among teammates. Lincoln racked up 13 points. Pea Ridge countered with five players, Coble, Mahoney, Holtgrewe, Rose and Will Feemster scoring to lead the Blackhawks to a 30-17 halftime disparity. Rose hit a 3-pointer while Mahoney scored twice inside and added a free throw.

Lincoln’s Troy Sugg was hot in the third period, knocking down three treys. Sterling Morphis scored 7 points to combine for 16 points, the best Wolf offensive output of any quarter in the contest. Pea Ridge got 3-pointers from Rhine and Rose, who also had a bucket in the lane. Holtgrewe and Mahoney scored in the paint to keep the Wolves staring at a 13-point deficit as the third quarter ended.

Morphis and Troy Sugg each hit trifectas and scored 5 points apiece for Lincoln in the final period, but Pea Ridge had too much balance. Five different Blackhawks scored as Pea Ridge outpointed Lincoln 22-11 to close out the contest.

Chase Duncan, Coble and Holtgrewe each connected on 3-pointers in the fourth, with Coble, Holtgrewe and Rose adding shots from in close. Mahoney dominated the glass. The game ended with the Blackhawks winning big, 68-44.

Mahoney was the game’s leading scorer with 19, followed by Rose and Holtgrewe with 15 each; Coble, 11; Rhine, 3; Duncan, 3; and Feemster, 2 rounded out the scoring.

RANDY MOLL WESTSIDE EAGLE-OBSERVER Lincoln junior Adam Keith handles the ball against Gentry during conference play. The Wolves hosted the district basketball tournament Feb. 12-17 to wrap up their last year as a member of the 4A-1. Beginning next school year Lincoln reverts to the 3A-1...