After a slow start that saw Lincoln Academy girls’ basketball team spot undefeated Waterville eight points, the Lady Eagles did everything they needed to do to put themselves into a position to win.
They led by three early in the 4th quarter and were tied with the Purple Panthers with under two minutes to play.
Turnovers and late foul calls took their toll on Lincoln, who lost to the two time defending State champs, 54-47, Tuesday night in Newcastle. The win made 53 straight wins for Waterville, who has not lost a game in the past three seasons.
Down 8-0 in the 1st quarter, Kari Jones scored five straight points to awaken the Eagles’ offense. Jones scored 10 in the quarter to help Lincoln keep pace with Waterville, who led 18-13 at the end of the 1st.
Waterville’s big girl Morgan Frame picked up her second foul with 3:23 to go in the 1st and did not return until 20 seconds left in the half. The Panthers built their biggest lead of the ball game at nine, to start the 2nd quarter. Jones and Kassie Lincoln hit big threes in the frame to help Lincoln pull within five at the half, 29-24.
The Eagles went on a 7-1 run at the start of the 3rd quarter to take their first lead of the game. Jones hit two foul shots and a bucket, and Becca Rice scored off her own steal to knot the score at 37-37, and Stephanie Winchenbach scored one at the line to give the Eagles the lead with 3:18 to go in the frame. The lead changed hands five times in the final three minutes with Waterville holding a one-point edge, 36-35, going into the final period.
Budrow opened the 4th for Lincoln on an inside hoop off a Jones feed, and Jones scored off the glass to give the Eagles a three-point lead. Lincoln went into a stall, but was hit with a foul. Frame scored a bucket and two foul shots to give Waterville the lead. Paige Gardiner was fouled by Jones and crashed into the wall. Gardiner’s mother was ejected after complaining to the officials and was escorted out of the Bailey gymnasium. Gardiner missed both foul shots.
Jones recaptured the lead for Lincoln with 3:12 to play. Taylor Frame scored five straight points for Waterville to give the Panthers a four-point lead with 2:38 to go. Rice hit a big three with 2:18 to go to pull within one. Stephanie Whitten hit one at the line for the visitors, before Jones tied the score with 1:57 to go. M. Frame scored off the glass to give Waterville the lead for good. Winchenbach pulled LA within one at the line with a minute and a half to play, but Waterville sank four of eight foul shots and Jennifer Nale scored for a seven-point Waterville win.
Scoring for Lincoln were K. Jones with a career high 23 (6R,4S,3A), Winchenbach 6 (4R), Lincoln 6 (4R,2S), Rice 5, Marni Jones 3, and Anna Budrow 2 (3R,2S,1B). M. Jones and Lincoln drew numerous charge calls in the game.
Waterville held a 29-20 advantage on the boards.
Lincoln had 24 fouls with three players, Lincoln, Budrow and K. Jones fouling out, and Waterville had 20 fouls, with M. Frame (3), Gardiner (3) and Jasmine Bishop (4) in foul trouble. Lincoln lost starter Marni Jones midway through the 4th when she fouled hard and went out with an ankle injure.
Scoring for Waterville were M. Frame 14, Nale 13, Whitten 9, T. Frame 8, Hart 4, Bishop 4, and Gardiner 2.
Lincoln girls are 6-2.
