Different streak eludes Lady Lions

FAYETTEVILLE — Just three days removed from a potentially program-altering victory, Columbia Central was unable to replicate the effort and execution from Tuesday night on the road, resulting in a near-miss at Lincoln County.

The Lady Lions, who snapped a 54-game losing streak against District 8-AAA opposition dating to February 2015 with their homecourt win over Franklin County, got off to a solid start Friday night but allowed seven unanswered points to open the fourth period of an eventual 47-43 loss.

“Our energy wasn't the same as Tuesday night,” sophomore Janiyha Riley said, referring to Central's 66-61 win over visiting Franklin County. “It was good, but it wasn't as good as Tuesday. We were ready Tuesday. We knew we were ready to do what we needed to do. (Friday) it wasn't there.

“It's disappointing. We had such a good game Tuesday. We know we're a way better team than what we showed (Friday).”

So does a victorious Lady Falcon coach Chad Tipps, whose team pulled away from a 32-all deadlock through three quarters with that early spurt and held on behind post Annalise Malone. The 6-foot junior — Central's roster only lists one player taller than 5-9 — went four-for-four from the free throw line over the final 2:39 to help put the game away and cap a 17-point effort.

“She's struggled a little to finish around the basket all year long,” Tipps said of Malone. “Columbia has done a good job with their athletic ability, getting after people, especially on the perimeter, so you want to get her as many touches around the rim as you can.

“On the right nights, they can cause you a lot of problems. And give them credit; they came back and made it a two- or three-point game. I thought our kids did a good job respecting them.”

Central (3-10, 1-2), which led 26-22 early in the third period after a Zaria Hall 3-pointer, bounced back from the seven-point fourth-quarter deficit to make it a one-possession game on two occasions late — first when Riley completed a three-point play with 55 seconds remaining, and again on a Karma Hunt trey with 12.5 seconds to go.

Both times Lincoln County (9-6, 2-2) answered with free throws to hold off the visitors.

“We came in expecting to win,” junior Jenice Bailey said. “There's not much they have that we don't. They had a little more size, but we played with them. It's tough. We had the game in the first three quarters. To lose it at the end is tough.

“We got outrebounded. We got good looks (on offense), but we got outrebounded. And they had more court awareness. They moved a lot and they were more aware.”

Riley finished with a team-high 13 points, with Josie Parks adding 12 before fouling out in the last 20 seconds. Amelia Kate Richardson scored 16 for Lincoln County, hitting four of six foul shots in the final minute.

Offensive struggles continue: Central's boys scored eight second-half points and were held without a field goal for the final quarter of a 57-47 loss.

The Lions (2-11, 0-3) blazed their way to a 39-26 halftime lead and were up 45-31 on the host Falcons in the early stages of the third period. Lincoln County (11-4, 3-1) countered with a 17-0 run triggered by its defense.

“We took our first charge in the second half; we average four or five a game,” Falcons coach Mark Cornelius said. “But once we did, we took another, and another, and they became stagnant driving because they knew we were there waiting on them.”

With their drives negated and their 3-pointers not falling, the Lions were unable to maintain their early offensive pace.

“We've got to try to keep playing like we're playing (to get the lead), not try to do too much,” Q Martin said after scoring 19 points to lead all scorers. Martin's two free throws at the 5:34 mark of the fourth quarter were Central's final points.

Jailen Brown scored 16 points and Ethan Sticker 11 to lead Lincoln County.

Lincoln Co. girls 47, Columbia Central 43

CC 8 15 9 11 — 43

LC 11 11 10 15 — 47

Columbia Central (43) — Josie Parks 12, Ryleigh Hamm 3, Janiyha Riley 13, Jenice Bailey 4, I'mya Hill 2, Karma Hunt 4, Zaria Hall 3, Makiyah Edwards 2

Lincoln Co. (47) — Amelia Kate Richardson 16, Alyssa Sticker 4, Milly Slayton 2, Ally Hall 8, Annalise Malone 17

3-pointers — Columbia Central 5 (Parks 2, Hamm, Hunt, Hall), Lincoln Co. 1 (Richardson)

Lincoln Co. boys 57, Columbia Central 47

CC 17 22 6 2 — 47

LC 15 11 16 15 — 57

Columbia Central (47) — Keshawn Frierson 7, Devin Reynolds 2, Cam Johnson 8, Meach McCoy 2, Carter Szydlowski 2, Q Martin 19, Omari Franklin 7

Lincoln Co. (57) — Jailen Brown 16, Ethan Sticker 11, Jesse Whitehead 6, Owen Sandlin 9, Caden Jacks 2, Josiaha Jenkins 4, Michael Gill 6, Will Ogle 3

3-pointers — Columbia Central 8 (Frierson, Johnson 2, Martin 3, Franklin 2), Lincoln Co. 3 (Brown 2, Sandlin)