Lincoln Hosts Summer Girls Basketball Tourney

LINCOLN — With basketball season more than three months away, the Lincoln girls basketball program hosted a two-day summer basketball scrimmage camp at Lincoln High School July 19-20.

Varsity, junior varsity and junior high teams from all over Arkansas, including teams from Gentry, Decatur, Mena, Waldron and Alma showed up. The teams entered in the event played six 20-minute scrimmage games.

New Decatur head coach Fess Thompson played on both college and professional basketball teams worldwide. The 6-foot, 10-inch Thompson played basketball for the University of Illinois. He also was a member of international teams like the Wellington Saints in New Zealand.

High school sports fans may recognize Thompson, who officiated several Decatur, Gravette and Gentry volleyball, basketball and baseball contests.

Games were played at the old gym at Lincoln Middle School, as well as at the high school. At the older facility, which does not have air conditioning, fatigue from the 90-plus degree heat began to wear on teams.

By the end of the two-day events, the Benton County squads both emerged much stronger teams, refining their strengths and correcting their weaknesses.

Day 1 results:

Mena 23, Decatur 15 Gentry 29, Lincoln 24 Gentry 27, Decatur 14 Gentry 18, Alma 13 Lincoln 35, Gentry 25 Lincoln 29, Decatur 26 Alma 33, Decatur 18 Mena 35, Gentry 32

Day 2 results:

Lincoln 48, Decatur 14 Decatur 26, Lincoln JV 15 Gentry JV 27, Decatur 20 Lincoln JV 20, Decatur 15

MIKE ECKELS SPECIAL TO THE ENTERPRISE-LEADER Abby Tilley (Decatur No. 23) tries to strip the ball away from a Lincoln junior varsity player in the final five minutes of the Decatur-Lincoln JV scrimmage contest in the new gym at Lincoln High School July 20.