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Gritty Wolves beat Bandys TERRANCE THOMAS, LTN Staff Writer Feb. 20, 2002 - CATAWBA — Just when you thought the Lincolnton boys basketball team was dead, it comes back with perhaps it’s grittiest effort of the season to beat Bandys 68-67. Bandys had thoroughly whipped the Wolves twice this season including last week’s game that all but eliminated the Wolves from the playoffs. With only one way left to get in the playoffs, the Wolves had to win the Midwest 2A Conference Tournament. Lose any game and the season is over. When Bandys jumped out to a 10-0 lead Tuesday in the first round of the tournament, it wasn’t a good feeling. But the Wolves clawed, scrapped, hustled, buckled down and roared backed into game. They closed the lead to 35-32 at the half and eventually took the lead with three minutes left in the third quarter. The Wolves then increased the lead to seven points. But in the end, Bandys chipped away at the lead until it had no option but to foul. That’s when Darren Wilson hit 6-of-6 free throws in the final moments which turned out to be the difference. “I just took my time,” he said. “I just relaxed, followed through on my shot. I knew they were all big.” The Wolves’ play impressed Coach Bob Cowie. “We did show heart,” he said. “(The players) did not want their season to end tonight. They clawed and fought hard,. Obviously, they chose to fight.” There was no doubt, Eric Wilson had come to battle. He scored 18 of his 29 while the Wolves were fighting to get back into the game. He’s 20th point gave the Wolves the lead for good early in the fourth quarter. He made tough shots all night long. He had a pair of 3-pointers and one three-point play. Darren Wilson had 15 points while Brian Finger who had a solid game inside scored 13. The win puts Lincolnton in the semifinals. The Wolves will play tonight at 8 p.m. at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory against more than likely the conference’s top seed Newton-Conover who played the eighth-seeded Chase Tuesday. The Wolves
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© 2001 Lincoln Times-News |
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