LCMS Lady Eagles win KBC 8th Grade State Tournament

Published 12:50 pm Thursday, October 24, 2019

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LEXINGTON — Anderson County handed the Lincoln County Middle School girls eighth-grade basketball team a loss in its regular-season finale to spoil the Lady Eagles’ perfect season.

The Lady Mustangs haven’t been able to repeat in the postseason.

Lincoln came back to bounce Anderson in the championship game of the Salt River Conference Postseason Tournament and, in the latest rematch Sunday in Lexington, the Lady Eagles corralled the Lady Mustangs once again.

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Out of a field of 34 teams, Lincoln was the last team standing Sunday, rolling past Anderson 39-19 to capture the Kentucky Basketball Commission (KBC) 8th Grade State Tournament title.

Lincoln, which finished in the Final Four last season, won six straight games en route to the championship win, with three wins on Saturday and three more on Sunday before the title tilt.

While her Lincoln teammates lofted the team trophy above their heads, eighth-grader Talynne Shearer held onto a trophy of her own as she was named the KBC tourney’s Most Valuable Player.

The state champion Lady Eagles, who are coached by Rebecca Shearer are: Hallie Mullins, Macey Carrier, Talynne Shearer, Taylen Ralston, Ellie Sims, Milah Mullins, Makayla Greer, Alexia Baldock, Chelsa Reed and Maci Reed.

Shearer is assisted by coaches Chansler Gilbert and Danny Griffin and support staffer Patti Greer.

The Lady Eagles (25-1) used a strong defensive stand to post the 20-point win in the final game. Lincoln took a 23-14 lead into the half, but the team saw no challenge from Anderson in the second half as the Lady Eagles held the Lady Mustangs to just five points over the third and fourth quarters. While Anderson’s offense sputtered, the Lincoln offense pushed in 16 second-half points to earn the lopsided win.

The Lady Eagles opened tourney play with three double-digit wins, the largest margin 22 points, but the next three games were decided by 7, 2 and 11 points as Lincoln moved into the title game.

Lincoln’s first victim of the two-day tourney was Middlesboro as the Lady Eagles soared 58-40 on Saturday. The team scored its biggest win in game two, beating Bardstown 42-20. The Lady Eagles finished out the day with a 36-23 win over Perry County.

On Sunday, the competition got tougher. Lincoln topped Ashland 28-21 in game four of the tourney before narrowly escaping with a 23-21 win against Hopkinsville in game five to advance to the semifinals. In the semis, the Lady Eagles knocked off Pikeville 42-31 to set up the Salt River rematch with Anderson.