Sports - December 2003

Wolves win OT thriller

Darren Wilson’s 21 points lead Wolves to 71-69 overtime victory

By STEVE KAY, LTN Correspondent

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Lincolnton senior guard Darren Wilson capped off a big week Friday night. The 6’0” guard scored the game-tying basket and then took over in overtime with the Wolves fighting back from a 15-point deficit to pull out a 71-69 non-conference win.

With the victory, the Wolves move to 4-1 on the young season. On Tuesday night, Wilson scored 26 points to lead the Wolves to victory at South Point.

Prior to the game, Wilson was presented a game ball to honor his career 1000th point that was scored earlier last week.

East Lincoln played very well building a 15-point lead. The Mustangs’ execution against the Wolves’ man-to-man was almost perfect getting open and easy shots everywhere.

Center Grant Covington was having his way inside scoring at will. He led the Mustangs with 18 points on the night.

East had balanced scoring which is what every coach wants with four other Mustangs reaching double figures.

T.J. Smith scored 14 points, guard Darin Dellinger had 11, Dante Roseboro and sophomore Jamelle Lowery helped out with 10 points each.

The Mustangs started quickly opening up a 14-6 advantage. East caught fire on offense outscoring their rivals 28-19 with play really heating up. Both teams exchanged three-pointers and basket for basket. They led by 4 at the half.

The Mustangs led 52-39 at the end of the third period and scored the first basket of the fourth period to open up the 15-point lead.

Lincolnton then turned up the pressure on defense. The defense forced turnovers and got East out of offensive rhythm.

The Wolves were able to get easy baskets benefiting from it’s great defense.

East still looked like they would be able to withstand all the pressure. Then the Wolves lost Eric Wilson, to fouls, which made their chances of pulling out the win look bleak.

However, the Wolves kept up the pressure. When East missed the front end of a one-and-one, Jordy Jefferies rebounded and passed to Darren Wilson who drove to the top of the circle and hit the game-tying basket.

There was some question if the shot was a three as Lincolnton fans stormed the court. After clearing the floor, it was ruled a two pointer setting up overtime.

In the extra session Wilson scored five of the Wolves’ seven points taking the lead midway through and holding off East to earn the hard-fought win.

For Lincolnton Wilson led with 21 points, while Jordy Jefferies tallied 14 points. Eric Wilson and sophomore Zack Gibson chipped in with 13 each.

Lincolnton shot 26 of 59 for 44 percent. From the foul line the Wolves were 15-26. East Lincoln went 27-56 for 48 percent and 7-13 from the line.

The Wolves play at home Monday as they try to avenge their only loss on the season when North Gaston plays a visit. East drops to 3-4 and plays Tuesday at home against Ashbrook.

                       1   2  3  4  O

East Lincoln 14 10 28 12   5 — 69

Lincolnton   6  14 19  25  7 —71

East Lincoln— Grant Covington 18, T.J. Smith 14, Jamelle Lowery 10, Dante Roseboro 10, Darin Dellinger 11, Carlos Marquez 6.

Lincolnton— Darren Wilson 21, Eric Wilson 13, Zack Gibson 13, Jordy Jefferies 14, Kyle Snyder 8 and Brant Eagle 4.

Women’s Varsity

East Lincoln broke a 38-38 tie and scored the last six points of the contest to win 44-38.

The victory avenged an earlier loss to Lincolnton from last week. The Lady Wolves were unable to score in the last 2:40 in the loss.

They are still trying to regroup after losing Shantae Shank to a transfer to Mecklenburg.

The Mustangs were led by Sara Fleming with 16 points. Leslie Marlowe also reached double figures with 10.

For Lincolnton, all-conference candidate Lindsey Sain scored 12 to keep Lincolnton in contention.

Both teams battled hard with neither team getting no more than a six or eight lead.

However, East was steadier in the last three minutes. The Lady Mustangs took a three-point lead at the end of the first period, but Lincolnton rallied.

They outscored East 14-9 to take a two-point halftime lead. Both teams led several times during the third period and early part of the fourth period.

The Lady Mustangs’ experience showed in the clutch, which was the difference.

                       1 2  3 4

East Lincoln 12 9 9 14— 44

Lincolnton   9  14 8 7— 38

East Lincoln— Sara Fleming 18, Leslie Marlowe 10, Kim Scercy 2, Brooke Michael 6, Koree Roseboro 6, Toree Roseboro 4.

Lincolnton— Lindsay Sain 23, Jessie Cline 1, Santana Edwards 2, Brittany Jones 4, Andrea Smith 6, Ashley Tipton 2.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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