PORTLAND — A sophomore and a freshman took over what looked like a lost cause Tuesday night and accelerated Lincoln Academy into the next round of the Class B West girls’ basketball tournament.
Point guard Brie Wajer amassed 20 points, nine steals and five assists, and first-year, six-foot center Kaitlyn Feltis scored three huge baskets during a lengthy fourth-quarter run, vaulting No. 5 Lincoln past No. 4 York, 50-40, in the quarterfinals at Portland Expo.
Lincoln (14-5) trailed by 10 points in the first quarter and six late in the third before scoring 12 in succession to take command. York (15-4) went 0-for-11 from the field in the final eight minutes.
Shannon Todd scored eight of her team-high 15 points in the first quarter for York.
The Wildcats led 36-30 on an Erin McCafferty basket, but Wajer punctuated the third quarter with a steal and a layup.
Feltis scored via the offensive glass after another Wajer theft, cutting it to two, and Wajer fed Feltis on the fast break to tie it. Feltis’ third-chance basket put Lincoln in front.
Alyx York and Leslie Sandefur both cashed in passes from Wajer prior to two Paige McElwain free throws with two minutes left.
The Wildcats couldn’t build on that momentum. Wajer sank two free throws and Olivia York dropped in 3-of-4 down the stretch.
York exploded to an 8-0 lead while Lincoln struggled mightily, both shooting and taking care of the basketball. The Eagles missed their first seven attempts and turned it over six times during the same sequence.
Alyx York got Lincoln on the board with a 3-point play. Gabrielle Wajer returned to the floor after picking up two quick fouls to drop in a short jumper off the glass and help the Eagles get comfortable.
Todd scored eight of York’s 11 points in the period, staking the Wildcats to a five-point advantage.
Emma Thomson’s first 3-pointer of the half made it a 16-8 edge. Her second trey supplied a 23-17 York halftime lead.
koakes@sunjournal.com
Send questions/comments to the editors.
