Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Lincoln Girls Defeat Elkins Ladies Sweep Series With Elkins By Winning Season-ending Game 58-39
Adams, Clay, Martin Represent Cards In Western All-star Game
ELKINS — Lincoln swept the season series with Elkins in girls basketball by posting a 58-39 road win in the last game of the regular season Feb. 7.
The one-two scoring punch of Hayle Sugg (21 points) and Nikki Thordsen (18 points) led the Lady Wolves past Elkins, who got 11 points apiece from Andrea Wilson and Skyler Johnson.
“We played great as a team. One of our leading scorers didn’t hardly score at all and we had some other players pick it up,” said Deon Birkes, Lincoln coach.
The Lady Wolves got a 54-42 victory over Elkins on Jan. 20. Lincoln led 48-30 after three quarters and coasted to a conference win over Elkins at home. Rashelle Goldman made five 3-point shots and was 3-of-4 at the stripe to lead Lincoln with 20 points. Shelby Rowe hit a pair of 3-pointers and shot 6-of-9 from the field to contribute 15 points. Also scoring were: Alyssa Neeley, nine; Hayle Sugg, four; Nikki Thordsen, four; and Lenci Calvillo, two.
Poor shot selection and unforced turnovers created a 16-1 first-quarter gap which Lincoln couldn’t overcome against Greenland in a 4830 loss Jan. 6.
Sugg’s free throw accounted for all scoring by Lincoln in the opening quarter. The Wolves picked it up in the second period, holding Greenland to seven points while putting up seven.
Thordsen took an outlet pass and dribbled in for a high-percentage short-range shot against the Pirate press.
Thordsen again broke down the defense with dribble penetration and Neeley finished the play by putting in Thordsen’s miss. Thordsen added a pair of foul shots, yet Lincoln trailed 23-8 at halftime and couldn’t catch up.
Lincoln (9-16, 5-5) finished as the number four seed and faced number five, Cedarville (10-14, 2-8), yesterday in the first game of the 3A-1 West District tournament held at Green Forest. FARMINGTON — Mike Adams, head coach, and Deon Clay and Jared Martin of the Farmington Cardinal football team, have been named as Western All- Stars by the Arkansas Activities Association.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Adams said.
Adams said he looks forward to working with three coaches on the Western AllStar coaching staff who have campaigned together with him on the gridiron during his long coaching career, including tenures at Charleston and Fayetteville.
Doug Loughridge, now coach at Charleston, and Zak Clark, now on the Fayetteville staff, both played under Adams at their respective schools. Jared Mcbride of Hot Springs Lakeside served as a long-time volunteer coach with Adams at Fayetteville.
Head coach for the West Football squad is Daryl Patton of Fayetteville. Additional coaches on the staff are D.J. Crane of Danville and Scott Reed of El Dorado.
The 2012 All-star Football game will be held Thursday, June 21, at Reynolds Razorback Stadium on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.
Adams said he will also enjoy coaching Cardinals Deon Clay and Jared Martin, who have been named to the West All-star team.
Ironically, Clay and Martin were named All-state but did not receive All-conference honors. Early in the season, Clay split time with Donovan Dimitri at quarterback before taking over in mid-season and finishing strong. Martin was injured and missed games in conference play, but came back to rush for 181 yards in the regular season finale in Farmington’s 58-37 win over Shiloh Christian.
Both Clay and Martin were key components in the Cardinal game plan with valuable postseason production that helped Farmington reach the state semifinals with an 11-3 record.
Adams said both players were worthy of All- Conference honors.
“Really, it’s just semantics,” Adams said.
“They are going to get a chance to play in the All-star game. I’m tickled about that, and they will represent our school well,” Adams said.
Tyson and the Arkansas Army National Guard are cosponsors of the All-star football game, now in its 57th year while State Farm Insurance sponsor the awards.
Head coach for the East Football squad is Randy Coleman of Jonesboro. The East coaching staff includes: Lanny Dauksch of West Memphis, Chris Hill of Wynne, Steve Janski of Heber Springs, Roddy Mote of Harding Academy, Scott Waymire of Carlisle, and Perry Darby of Jonesboro.