The Lincoln County Lady Patriots kicked off the Toyota Classic with a 76-57 win over George Rogers Clark Thursday at Scott County High School.

It was a close contest for the first 12 minutes of action, with three lead changes and three ties between the two squads. The final switch came at the 4:10 mark of the second quarter when Zaria Napier nailed a 3-point goal to put Lincoln on top to stay, 31-30.

The first lead change in the game came with 1:29 to go in the first quarter when Maddy Boyle, who had a game-high 21 points on 8-for-13 shooting, bombed in a 3-pointer to edge Lincoln ahead 20-18. Boyle, who went 4-for-4 from 3-point range, collected her first trey two minutes into the game, following an Emma King bucket with the triple for the game’s first tie, 5-5.

Kennedy Igo, who led Clark with 20 points on 7-for-14 shooting, broke the 5-5 tie with the Lady Cardinals’ first 3-pointer. Hayley Harrison, who finished with 16 points, and Maleaha Bell, who had 13 points, also knocked down 3-pointers in the first quarter to help Clark post its biggest lead of the game, 16-10, with 3:25 on the clock.

Lincoln (14-2) would erase that lead before the horn sounded on the first. With 2:56 left, Kaitlynn Wilks, who had 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting, scored off a King assist to ignite a 12-4 scoring run. Trinity Shearer would drain a 3-pointer in the run then King, who scored 19 points on 7-for-14 shooting, picked up her sixth point before Boyle hit for her go-ahead 3-pointer. Wilks would score four total points in the run, capping off the first with a bucket for a 22-20 lead.

Clark (12-5) regained the lead midway through the second quarter with Igo knocking down back-to-back 3’s to put the Lady Cards up 30-28.

It took all of 16 seconds for Lincoln to overtake Clark once again, with Napier scoring her 3-pointer off a Boyle assist to put Lincoln in front for good.

The Napier trey set off a 10-0 Lincoln run. Boyle and King added a bucket a piece and Shearer closed the half with a 3-pointer for a 38-30 Lady Pat lead.

Lincoln spent the second half cushioning its lead. The Lady Patriot lead never dropped below nine points over the remainder of the game as they outscored the Lady Cardinals 17-12 in the third period to extend their lead to 55-42. They closed on a 21-15 run to secure the 19-point victory.

Lincoln outshot Clark to earn the win, connecting on 52.8 percent of its shots (28-for-53) while Clark was held to 35.6 percent (16-for-45). Both teams hit eight 3-pointers with Lincoln 8-for-15 from 3 and Clark, 8-for-17. At the line, the Lady Patriots were 12-for-14. The Lady Cards were 17-for-21.

Lincoln outrebounded Clark 31-25, led by Wilks and King with eight boards apiece. Harrison led Clark with seven rebounds.

*****
Toyota Classic at Scott Co.

Lincoln 22 16 17 21 – 76
GRC 20 10 12 15 – 57

LINCOLN (14-2) – Emma King 19, Kaitlynn Wilks 17, Maddy Boyle 21, Trinity Shearer 6, Zaria Napier 9, Haleigh Releford 4.

GEORGE ROGERS CLARK (12-5) – Maleaha Bell 13, Hayley Harrison 16, Kennedy Igo 20, Shelbi Wilson 2, Brianna Byars 4, Tyra Flowers 2.