Wolfpack Defense Shuts Down Shiloh

LINCOLN — Lincoln jumped out to a 16-4 first quarter lead and held off former 4A-1 Conference foe, Shiloh Christian, by a 44-40 final Friday in nonconference boys basketball action.

Lincoln is now a member of the 3A-1 Conference after competing in the 4A-1 from 2012-2018.

“I tell you what, I was so proud of them. This is game four for them in a row this week, and to have that much left in the tank to ‘D’ up like they did and finish, yeah.” said Lincoln coach Tim Rich. “Offense was a little flatter tonight than usual, but that’s got to do a lot with dead legs, but they still found a way and they finished and I’m super proud of these guys.”

Lincoln played games Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week.

The Wolves won with tough man- to- man defense down the stretch after committing multiple turnovers and allowing the Saints to make several runs including a 6-0 mini run capped by Elliot Wessels’ layup off Braxton Perkins’ dribble penetration and assist that put the visitors in front 35-34.

Lincoln coach Tim Rich took time-out and the Wolves got the ball to Daytin Davis open for an easy 10-footer to regain the lead only to give the Saints a second chance with an offensive rebound. Tanner Neil cranked up a 3-pointer and the lead see-sawed back to Shiloh, 38-36, with 5:38 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Davis went to the offensive glass for Lincoln and fed Austin Munyon for the tying layup then the Wolves hunkered down defensively holding Shiloh to a single field goal over the final five minutes.

Lincoln’s man-to-man created an airball and Hayden Brasuell committed a foul in frustration. Lincoln couldn’t score at the other

end, but Davis took a steal coast- to- coast putting the Wolves back in the lead for good, at 40-38, at the 3: 41 mark.

Wessels missed an off- balance shot in the key and Weston Massey rebounded for Lincoln. The Wolves turned the ball back over, then atoned for the mistake by drawing a charging foul on Brasuell, who got caught pushing off trying to get open.

Recognizing Brasuell had four fouls, Lincoln senior Eli Rich went right at him. Brasuell took the bait and fouled out sending Eli Rich to the free-throw-line where he made 1-of-2.

J.C. Philip scored Shiloh’s only points in crunch time using his “afro look” to imitate a patented “Dr. J” finger- roll in the lane cutting Lincoln’s lead to one, 41-40, with 1:36 showing.

Davis canned a free throw and Shiloh had an opportunity to either tie or take the lead, but Massey utilized his lateral quickness to come away with a steal on the baseline. Lincoln made two more defensive stops sandwiched around Kyler Calvin’s free throws which iced the game for Lincoln with 9.3 seconds left to claim a 44- 40 nonconference victory.

LINCOLN 44, SHILOH CHRISTIAN 40

S. Christian 4 11 16 9 — 40 Lincoln 16 8 10 10 — 44 Lincoln (5-1): Daytin Davis 5 1-4

12, Weston Massey 5 1-2 12, Austin Munyon 5 1-2 12, Eli Rich 1 2-4 4, Tyler Brewer 1 0-0 2, Kyler Calvin 0 2-2 2. Totals 17 7-13 44.

Shiloh Christian (1-1): Elliot Wessels 6 0-2 12, Hayden Brausuell 3 2-2 11, J.C. Philip 3 1-3 7, Tanner Neil 2 2-2 7, Braxton Perkins 1 0-0 3. Totals 15 5-9 40.

3-Point Goals — Lincoln 3 (Davis, Munyon, Massey), Shiloh Christian 5 (Wessels 3, Perkins, Neil).

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Tough man-to-man defense such as this aggressive effort by Lincoln senior Kyler Calvin empowered the Wolves to hold off Shiloh Christian, 44-40, in boys basketball action Friday at Wolfpack Arena. Lincoln was playing its fourth game in four days.