Lincoln Academy snapped a five game losing streak on Dec. 30, with a 54-53 overtime win over Belfast. With five seconds to play in OT, Patrick Mullin collected a pass from Ben McLain, dribbled into the paint and fired in a pull up jumper with two Lions in his face for the game winner.
After scoring the initial basket of the game, the Eagles went into a scoring slump and found themselves down 10 in the first quarter. The Lions led 16-9 at the end of one, before Lincoln rallied in the second frame to tie the score with 21 seconds left to play in the half on two foul shots from McLain. Jason Hughes made good at the line for a three- point play to put Belfast up 26-23 at the break.
Belfast surged ahead by eight in the 3rd quarter, but Andrew Feltis hit back-to-back 3-pointers to pull the Eagles within two at the end of the third, 37-35.
Ethan Wajer opened the scoring in the 4th period off his own steal to tie the game. Doug Martens hit a three to recapture the lead for the Lions. Wajer scored on a Feltis feed and scored a 3-pointer to give Lincoln their first lead in the ball game since their opening hoop.
Jack Davis hit a three for the Lions, but Mclain quickly reclaimed the lead on a Mullin pass. Hughes and Wajer exchanged hoops and the lead, before Hughes went inside for two, then scored a foul shot for a three point play and a two point Belfast lead. McLain scored on a Feltis feed to tie the game with 1:30 to go. Wajer gave the Eagles the lead on a pass from McLain, before Hughes tied the game and forced OT.
Wajer scored one from the line to take a brief lead in overtime. Hughes went inside for two to give Belfast a one-point lead down by one with 42 seconds to play, Lincoln was forced to foul. Jack Davis scored one at the line, but missed the second with Everett Martin ripping down the rebound. McLain was fouled and made one of two shots with 29 seconds to go to pull within one. The Eagles fouled Davis again with 23 seconds to go, and he missed the front half of a one-on-one with Martin once again hauling in the rebound. Lincoln kept their heads and worked the clock before McLain found Mullin open for the game winner.
Scoring for Lincoln were Wajer with a career high 18 (2R,3S), McLain 12 (6A,3S,3R), Martin 8 (7R,2A,2S), Mullin 8 (3R,3S,3A), Feltis 6 (3R, ,2S,3A)and Troy Carter 2.
Scoring for Belfast were Hughes 22, Martins 11, Derrick Bernosky 7, Jimmy Davis 5, and Pat Lacivita 2.
