Cedarville Escapes In Overtime With 68-59 Win

LINCOLN — A charging foul turned the ball over and a missed free throw cost Lincoln the lead, and Cedarville tied the game and prevailed in overtime, 68-59, on Friday.

After leading 52-47 with 1:58 to go in regulation, the Wolves’ varsity boys basketball team were outscored 16-7 in the extra session and dropped a 3A-1 conference game to Cedarville in the first game of a double-header celebrating Lincoln’s homecoming.

“Cedarville started overtime out and took it right to the block and went to their big boys,” said Tim Rich, Lincoln coach.

Rich said although Cedarville had trouble shooting free throws at the start of the game, they hit their free throws down the stretch. Cedarville was 8for-10 at the line in overtime while Lincoln was just 3-of-6. Midway through the bonus period, Cheyenne Vaughn’s free throw pulled Lincoln to within, 58-56, but the Pirates closed out overtime with a 103 finish.

Vaughn asserted himself offensively, scoring the first six points of the game for Lincoln. The Wolves then got jump shots by Michael Swayne, Ossy Escareno and Tyler Cummings. Ossy Escareno and Cummings’ baskets were 3-pointers.

Lincoln led 14-12 after one quarter of play.

“Offensively, it’s the best we’ve played in a while,” Rich said, adding he was pleased with Wolves’ attacking the basket.

In the second stanza, Julian Ortiz drove to his left, came to a jumpstop and banked in a short-range jumper to help the Wolves break a tie at 22-all. Then Ossy Escareno swiped the ball away from Cedarville and passed to Sergio Morales, who hung in the air and converted a bank shot while being fouled. Lincoln’s defense only yielded a free throw in the last 3:30 of the first half and the Wolves led, 26-23, at intermission.

At halftime, Lincoln celebrated their basketball homecoming. Alyssa Neeley was crowned queen.

Rich said Sergio Morales did a great job of crashing the boards from the guard position.

“He got some key rebounds for us,” Rich said.

After taking on Green Forest yesterday, the Wolves host Elkins on Friday.