From the moment the ball was tipped, Lincoln Prep put the pressure on their visiting opponents. By attacking the glass and being the first ones to the loose ball, they gave themselves multiple opportunities to score. On the defensive end they limited Bill Crothers’ ability to get to the paint, forcing them to take shots from outside, and capitalized off of turnovers in transition. Their play helped them mount a 13-4 opening lead and cause some problems for the other side.  In response, Bill Crothers made defensive adjustments which translated to a few extra points but turnovers continued to be an issue in the late minutes.

Leading 17-9 to begin the 2nd quarter, Lincoln Prep felt comfortable with their position given their great play in the 1st quarter.  Their success continued offensively through ball movement and extra passes but Bill Crothers held on and managed to get their own shots fall as well. As the quarter went on, rebounding became a significant point of emphasis. Despite not being the tallest player on the floor, Lincoln’s Emily Martindale consistently grabbed both offensive and defensive rebounds thanks to her great positioning on the floor. Closing out the quarter, Bill Crothers did their best to cut the deficit and managed to get within 9 points but a buzzer beater three-pointer by Kaillie Hall brought Lincoln back up to 34-23.

After the break Bill Crothers seemed to put themselves in position to close the gap, but within a few minutes Lincoln Prep’s offense exploded behind the leadership of lead guard Hanna Hall. Alongside Aiden Rainford, even though she spent a lot of on the bench due to foul trouble, Bill Crothers had their hands full and found themselves trailing by as much as 20 points late in the 3rd. Despite facing the biggest deficit of the game, Bill Crothers continued to remain composed while aggressive. Ahriahna Grizzle caused full court frustration for Lincoln; generating turnovers and getting herself to the free throw line.

With their lead cut down to 54-39, Lincoln had reason for concern entering the final quarter due to how the previous quarter concluded. Bill Crothers once again were poised to make a run and this time around, they capitalized on the opportunity. Grizzle maintained her high energy by diving for loose balls and getting herself to the free throw line, which in turn stopped the clock that would be essential in cutting into the Lincoln lead. Slowly but surely, they chipped away at a substantial lead to bring it back to within a more manageable 10 points. With the pressure on Lincoln prep they responded with a 6-0 run to weather the Bill Crothers' run.  After creating a considerable lead in the final few minutes, Lincoln prep held on to their lead and completed the 72-55 victory over Bill Crothers.

Despite the loss, Bill Crothers S.S has had a successful season so far and they look to finish the season on a strong note. Their next contest against Guelph Prep on February 17th which will put an end to their road run, before they return home for 3 straight home games. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30pm. Now firmly above .500 and 2 games behind the top ranked team, Lincoln Prep hopes to take their winning streak through their final 3 games of the season. They’ll remain at home for their next contest as they host Guelph Prep on February 22nd, tip-off at 5:30pm.