STANFORD — The Lincoln County Patriots had a tough time in their return to hoops action Friday night as they hosted No. 16 Madison Central.

It had been 10 days since either team had played a game, but the visitors certainly showed no signs of being rusty after the layoff, as Central used a 20-0 run over the first and second quarters to explode out to a 27-6 lead and never looked back, cruising past the Patriots 68-39. 

Junior center Isaiah Cozart led Central (14-5) with 13 points and 15 rebounds while Quaezhan Charlton had 10 points and six rebounds.

Central, which shot 61 percent from the field in the first half, posted a 17-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Indians led just 7-6 before Cozart went in for a dunk to ignite the 20-0 run to extend the margin to 27-6. Their lead was 41-12 at the half.

Lincoln, which finished at 34 percent shooting (12-for-35), connected on just 13 percent of its shots in the first half. Blake Smith led the Patriots (9-10) at the half with four points, including the team’s first basket of the game. 

Central held Lincoln to single digits through the first three periods, outscoring its host 17-6, 24-6 and 20-7. The Indians’ lead was 61-19 at the end of the third quarter, with the running clock invoked with just over three minutes to go in the period after two free throws by Kenyon McKee.

Lincoln did flip the tables on Central in the fourth quarter, outpointing the visitors 20-7.
Elijah Frye, who led Lincoln with 13 points, tallied 12 of those points in the final frame to help cut the Indians’ lead from 42 points down to 29 at the final horn. Chase Phillips, who finished with nine points and five rebounds, converted on two three-point plays in the fourth. 

Central finished at 46 percent from the field, going 25-for-55. The Indians were 8-for-17 from 3-point range while the Patriots were just 2-for-8. Frye and Jaxon Smith had Lincoln’s 3-point shots.

At the foul line, Lincoln was 13-for-17 while Central was 10-for-14.

Tyler Crafton had three 3’s for Central to finish with nine points. Dustin Geralds also had nine points along with six rebounds.

The Indians dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Patriots 46-20. Riley Bodner led Lincoln with six rebounds.

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at Lincoln Co.

Central 17 24 20 7 – 68
Lincoln 6 6 7 20 – 39

MADISON CENTRAL (14-5) – Kole Brown 3, Quaezhan Charlton 10, Isaiah Cozart 13, Tyler Crafton 9, Dustin Geralds 9, Kenyon McKee 6, Jacori Miller 6, Isaiah Minter 8, Chase Pressley 2, Preston Roberts 2.
LINCOLN (9-10) – Bryson Yaden 2, Blake Smith 4, Elijah Frye 13, Jaxon Smith 7, Chase Phillips 9, Riley Bodner 4.