Boys Basketball: Eagles bounce back from Huron loss with win over Lincoln
The Skyline boys’ basketball team improved to 3-1 on the season with a 75-55 win over Lincoln in an SEC crossover game on Friday night.
Jayden Potts (21 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals) and Sam Koelling (14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks) had big games for the Eagles. James Harrison Jr. and Lucas Lynch each scored 11 and Will Gardner (5 rebounds) and Ben Stille (6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks) each scored nine points for Skyline.
Skyline led 17-16 in an up-tempo first quarter where the defenses had trouble keeping up. Five different players scored for Skyline in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, it was still a back and forth game with neither team able to take a big lead. Skyline started to show some more poise and proper positioning on both ends of the court. With about 3 minutes left in the quarter, the Eagles had a tremendous defensive sequence: Lincoln got a steal and break away and Jayden Potts had a thunderous block off the glass and as a Lincoln player grabbed the rebound and tried to put it back in, Sam Koelling pinned it again on the glass which spurred a Skyline transition basket. The run seemed to spark a large momentum swing that impacted the rest of the game.
Skyline led 37-33 at half.
The Eagles dominated the third quarter at both ends of the floor. They were able to make stops on defense and converted on offense, attacking and finishing at the basket and making the extra pass when needed while knocking down shots.
Skyline won the third quarter 25-10 to take a 62-43 lead going in the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter Skyline built the lead to near 30 points and played everyone down the stretch to secure the 75-55 win.
Skyline next plays in the Motor City Round Ball Classic vs Ludington on Dec. 29.
The Eagles were coming off a tough 48-42 loss to rival Huron on Tuesday. The River Rats led 16-8 after the first quarter and 25-16 at halftime. The Eagles outscored the Rats 14-12 in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 37-33.
Skyline took a one-point lead in the fourth quarter before Huron hit a couple shots to take a three-point lead. Down four points with about 1:30 left in the game, Skyline had a three-point shot rim out and the River Rats grabbed the rebound and put the game away at the free-throw line.
Harrison (13 points) and Potts (12 points) led Skyline.
