The No. 1 ranked Lincoln Abes won their fifth game in a row on Wednesday night, taking down Wilson on the road, 83-72. The Abes are alone in first place in the Narrows League 3A division with a 4-0 record, and overall they’re 10-1.
But it’s going to be a long week of practice for Lincoln.
“We’ll take the win,” said Lincoln coach Aubrey Shelton, “but that was one of the worst defensive efforts I’ve ever seen a Lincoln team play. It was horrible. We gave up layup after layup after layup.”
Lincoln senior Tre’Shaun Fletcher saved the day. The Colorado commit was an unstoppable force in the paint, scoring 34 points while grabbing 18 rebounds.
“He played hard,” said Shelton. “That was the game plan. We knew they didn’t have the size to match up with him.”
Fletcher did most of his damage in the lane, but he did step out and drill a 3-pointer to give Lincoln an 11-point lead late in the third quarter. Moments later, he grabbed a defensive rebound and dribbled coat-to-coast for a lay-in.
Wilson (7-6 ooverall, 2-3 Narrows 3A) starts three freshmen, including 6-foot-6 Alphonso Anderson, who was charged with guarding Fletcher. Fletcher is only an inch taller, but he has three years of strength and experience on Anderson.
“It’s a legacy thing the freshmen have to get over,” said Wilson coach Dave Alwert, who was subdued on Wednesday after recently suffering a concussion. “They were the ones they watched at the YMCA growing up, they were the ones on the court. The freshmen were shooting on the side, not being able to get in the games.”
Anderson led Wilson with 18 points, while sophomore Keun Thompson scored 14.
Fletcher showed Anderson a big-time move late in the fourth quarter, receiving the ball in the post with his back to the basket. Fletcher did a one-dribble drop-step to get around his defender before violently dunking.
Lincoln roared out to a fast start, riding hot shooting by junior guard Ar’Mond Davis to build a 28-15 lead early in the second quarter.
Wilson refused to be blown out at home. The Rams scored 12 consecutive points, mostly on transition baskets, to make it a one-point game.
Fletcher scored nine points in the final four minutes of the first half, helping Lincoln go to halftime with a 42-35 lead.
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