After eleven wins to start the season, Lincoln Charter has now lost two games in just four days. Saturday's loss to Moravian Prep wasn't totally unexpected; the team from Hudson, NC, is ranked by MaxPreps as the 7th best boys team in the state; Lincoln Charter was ranked 27th overall, second best in the 1A division. The loss to Cherryville Tuesday evening was a surprise. For the Ironmen, it was their most satisfying of their seven wins this season.
The Eagles led the Saturday game until the fourth period; they were up by
eight points at the half and still ahead by four going into the final quarter, but their second half scoring was slowed by a tight defense by Moravian Prep and the Lions, who have scored over a hundred points in three games and over 90 in three others this season, caught fire and outscored the Eagles 24-14 in the fourth for a 78-72 win.
On Tuesday, the Eagles hosted a Cherryville team they had beaten 92-35 on January 12th. This time, the Ironmen mounted a come from behind win 80-70. Lincoln Charter led late in the third period by 14 points before Cherryville began its comeback. Lavonte Hughes led his team with 21 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds. Carson Kelly had 20 points and hit six three-pointers for the Ironmen. Austin Thompson had 13 points and 8 rebounds. Landon Hahn had 11 points and 4 steals. For the Eagles, who were playing shorthanded, Carter Seitz led all scorers with 23 points. Troy Fulton had 21, all on three-pointers. Fulton has become the Eagles long-range shooter; he hit four of eight three-point attempts in the game with Moravian Prep. Avery Borden had 11 points.
The loss was the first to another Southern Piedmont Conference team for the Eagles since February 2019. They have already clinched the conference title. Their final regular season game will be Thursday at Piedmont Community Charter in Gastonia. The Ironmen finish the regular season at Thomas Jefferson Academy in Mooresboro Friday evening.
Lincoln Charter won the girls game by a 71-17 score.
North Lincoln continued its hold on the top spot in the South Fork Conference with a 73-55 win at Lincolnton. Cole Seagle had his best career game with 32 points including three of five three-pointers and 9 for 9 at the charity stripe. Jack Carter had 19 points, 6 rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Daniel Carter scored 7 points, but had 14 rebounds for the Knights. North jumped out to a 10-point lead in the first period and never looked back. With a win over Bandys at home Friday night, they can wrap up their first ever conference basketball title.
East Lincoln kept pace with a 76-64 win at West Lincoln. The Mustangs, who are in second place with a 10-3 record one game behind the Knights at 11-2, built a 42-13 halftime lead. To the credit of the Rebels, who are still winless, they outscored the visitors in the third and fourth periods to make it a closer game. Logan Craig led East with 20 points, while Jordan Truesdale had 20 for the Rebels. Drew Bean had 12, Nykolas Clarke and Jeremiah Jones 22 each, and Roman Hawk 9 for the Mustangs, who got to play everybody thanks to the big early lead. For West, Adam Fortenberry and Austin Flowers each had 15.
East Lincoln has now won ten or more games every season for the last 17 years. The Mustangs finish the regular season at home Friday night against Newton-Conover; the Rebels will play at Lake Norman Charter.
The Newton-Conover girls continued to dominate the South Fork picking up their 13th win without a loss by beating Maiden 62-40. The Blue Devils actually led at the half 24-22, but the Red Devils poured it on over the final two quarters. While Newton-Conover plays at East Lincoln Friday, Maiden will finish at home against Lincolnton.
Maiden won the boys game 58-39.
The East Lincoln girls maintained second place in the league with a 70-43 win at West Lincoln. Ginny Overbay led the Mustangs with a double-double: 15 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists and two blocked shots. For the Rebels, Chloe Norman had 15. Kelsey Campo had 11 points, 5 rebounds, 6 steals and 3 assists for East. Taliyah Thomas had 10 points. Morgan Chapman had 11 and Farrah Richardson 9 for West.
