Sports - February 2003

LHS advances; 2nd round today

TERRANCE THOMAS, LTN Staff Writer

February 26, 2003 - Lincolnton’s boys basketball team didn’t have long to celebrate its impressive 62-41 win over Owen in the first round of the state playoffs Monday night.

The Wolves had to get ready to face the No. 2 team in the state, West Caldwell, on the road Wednesday.

The Warriors are 24-2 this season. Their only losses were to Morganton Freedom, the state’s No. 2 ranked 4-A team, by one point and two point margins. West Caldwell currently has an 18-game winning streak

 “We’ll have to play by far the best we’ve played all season,” LHS coach Bob Cowie said. “We will have to play a perfect game.”

Cowie said West Caldwell has one of the best basketball traditions in the state.

The Warriors have made the playoffs 23 straight years. They have put together a phenomenal 72 conference-game winning streak. The team went to the regionals three of the last four years. Head coach Danny Anderson won his 400th game this season.

Lincolnton will have to stop the Warriors’ Derek Hood, who averages 18 points a game. But the front line of 6-foot-6 Mikey Carpening and 6-4 Julius Watts could give the Wolves some trouble on the boards and inside.

The team is ten players deep. Point guard Jeremy Harper spreads the ball around with eight assists a game.

It should be a tall order for the Wolves, not like Owen which only made the playoffs because it won its conference tournament as a seventh seed.

Cinderella Owen was out of luck against the Wolves, who devoured them by winning the last three quarters by 21 total points.

Eric Wilson poured in 28 points to lead the Wolves. Darren Wilson added 11.

DIRECTIONS TO WEST CALDWELL: Take 321 North into Caldwell County. Once you get to the Southwest Loop near Bush Oldsmobile, veer right. Go to the third intersection and turn left. The school is two miles on the right. Make a right turn next to the Gas House gas station.

Game time is 7 p.m.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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