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Lincoln Prep ends week strong at Wossman tourney

Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Lincoln Prep ends week strong at Wossman tourney

Lincoln Prep guard Trey Spann helped the Panthers go 3-1 at the Wossman Tournament over the weekend. Spann scored 60 total points in Prep’s three wins. Photo by Josh McDaniel

After a tough loss on day 1 of the Wossman High Belton Classic on Thursday, Lincoln Prep bounced back in impressive fashion, defeating Jennings 62-49 on Friday.

The game was a backand- forth battle, but a dominant fourth quarter propelled Lincoln Prep to a strong finish. Jennings, coming off a 69-47 loss to Wossman, looked to get back on track, but struggled against a tenacious Lincoln Prep defense.

The game started off slow for the Panthers, as they found themselves trailing 19-11 at the end of the first quarter. Joseph Spann was the lone offensive spark for Lincoln Prep early, contributing five points in the opening period.

There was a shift in momentum in the second quarter, thanks to the play of Fredrion Payne and Devin Burton. The two combined for 11 points, while Lincoln Prep’s defense tightened up, holding Jennings to just eight points. With a 15-point offensive surge, the Panthers went into halftime trailing by only one point, 27-26.

“We started out slow because we had some guys who didn’t play in the first quarter,” said head coach Antonio Hudson. “Jennings was more physical than I thought, but our boys figured it out.”

In the third quarter, Lincoln Prep began to assert themselves, outscoring Jennings 17-11. Spann found his rhythm, putting up seven points in the quarter, including a series of key plays to give his team a 43-38 lead going into the final frame.

The fourth quarter was where Lincoln Prep truly took control. Amarje Young came out with a steal and a quick layup to extend the lead to 45-38. The Panthers’ defense cranked up the pressure, forcing several turnovers that turned into easy points. With 4: 35 left in the game, Lincoln Prep had built a 56-42 advantage and never looked back, finishing the game with a 62-49 victory.

The Panthe r s ’ 19- point explosion in the final quarter was the difference, as they sealed the win with a strong, all-around effort.

Burton led the way with 19 points with Spann tossing in 18 and Jabari Levingston 11.

The Panthers took on Class 5A powerhouse Neville to open play at the Belton Classic in a highly anticipated matchup that showcased two vastly different playing styles.

The finesse-oriented Neville Tigers, fresh off a big win against the Richwood Rams, were looking to continue their momentum, while the hard- nosed Panthers were determined to impose their defensive will.

The game got off to a physical start, with Lincoln Prep’s aggressive defense causing turnovers and Devin Burton leading the charge with 8 points in the first quarter.

The Panthers took an early 12-5 lead, but Neville was able to settle into their offense in the second quarter, outscoring Lincoln Prep 15- 9 and narrowing the deficit to 23-21 at halftime.

The second half was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading leads and capitalizing on turnovers and fouls. Despite struggling with foul trouble, Lincoln Prep managed to maintain a slim lead, taking a 31-28 advantage into the fourth quarter.

The final quarter saw a surge from Lincoln Preps freshman guard Jabari Levingston, who scored 8 of his 12 points, and Amarjae Young, who added 9 of his 12 points.

However, it was Lincoln Prep’s struggles at the free throw line that ultimately proved to be the deciding factor. The Panthers shot a dismal 7-of-27 from the charity stripe, leaving points on the board and paving the way for Neville’s 55-54 victory.

When asked about the game’s outcome, Hudson was succinct. “Free throws,” he simply said.

Burton led all scorers with 16 points to go with 14 rebounds. His play on the defensive end and around the goal was a major key to keeping the Panthers in the game.

The Lincoln Prep Panthers closed out day three of the Belton Williams Classic at Wossman High in Monroe on Saturday with a pair of impressive victories, showcasing their resilience and teamwork in a pair of hard-fought matchups.

In the day’s first contest, Lincoln Prep squared off against Rayville.

The Panthers came out of the gate hot, with Tuda Payne knocking down a three- pointer to set the tone. Joseph Spann quickly followed up with four consecutive points, pushing the Panthers to an early 9-2 lead that forced Rayville’s coach to call a timeout.

Spann dominated the first quarter, pouring in 14 points to give Lincoln Prep a 22-17 advantage at the end of the period.

As the second quarter unfolded, both teams began to settle into their rhythm. Rayville mounted a brief push, but Lincoln Prep’s defense was in lockstep with their offense, limiting the Rayville attack and extended their lead to 36-26 at the half.

The third quarter featured a crowd-pleasing highlight when Spann completed his first ingame dunk with 2: 32 remaining, sending the crowd into a frenzy and pushing the Panthers’ lead to 49-40.

Lincoln Prep finished the third quarter with a comfortable 51-43 lead.

Despite a determined rally from Rayville in the final quarter, Lincoln Prep held firm, executing in crunch-time to seal a 66-55 victory.

Devin Burton paced the Panthers with 22 points, while Spann chipped in with 17 and Levington 11.

In their second game of the day, Lincoln Prep faced the 18th ranked Richwood Rams, a team that had handed them a tough loss earlier in the season. The first quarter was a tight battle, with Richwood dominating the boards and taking a slight 1713 lead.

The Rams continued to control the tempo in the second quarter, with their sharp shooting keeping Lincoln Prep at bay.

However, the Panthers fought back behind the playmaking of Amarjae Young, and the teams headed into halftime with Richwood holding a 34-27 edge.

The third quarter was a back- and- forth affair, with Richwood using size and strength to dictate the pace. At 3:04, the Rams were up 39-32. But Lincoln Prep quickly responded with a steal and fast-break layup from Jabari Levingston, followed by a key basket from Spann and two clutch free throws from Young. By the end of the period, the Panthers had trimmed the deficit to just one point, trailing 44-43.

The final quarter saw both teams exchange blows, with Lincoln Prep taking a 49-45 lead with 6: 02 remaining. Richwood then went on a 7-0 run to take a 51-49 lead. With 1:18 left in the game, Spann hit a clutch three-pointer to give Lincoln Prep a 56-55 lead. Spann followed up with two quick baskets, but with just seven seconds remaining, the Panthers found themselves down 60-58.

In a dramatic finish, Devin Burton was fouled and calmly sank two free throws with 2.6 seconds left to tie the game.

Then, with the clock ticking down, Joseph Spann delivered a jawdropping three-pointer at the buzzer, lifting Lincoln Prep to a stunning 63-60 win.

“These kids played hard today,” said assistant coach Johnny Simmons. “ To come back and win two games in an hour’s time speaks to their toughness and mentality. I’m really proud of them. Coach Hudson has built something special here, and for us to win in his absence shows just how much these players have bought into his vision.”

Spann led the way with 25 points against the Rams, while Levingston added 13 points, Burton 12 and Young 11.

Lincoln Prep will be back in action today against the Bastrop Rams.

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