Pats fall to Rebels in region title game
Published 4:28 pm Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Tramane Alcorn, right, of Lincoln County tries to shoot over Boyle County defenders Hagan Webb (4) and Noah Imfeld during the third quarter Saturday. - Photo by Mike Marsee
Baylor Mattingly, left, of Lincoln County and William Carr of Boyle County reach for a loose ball during the third quarter Saturday. - Photo by Mike Marsee
Lincoln County coach Jeff Jackson instructs his team during the fourth quarter Saturday. - Photo by Mike Marsee
Lincoln County students cheer for their team during the fourth quarter Saturday. - Photo by Mike Marsee
Baylor Mattingly of Lincoln County accepts the regional runner-up trophy from Lincoln athletic director Tim Estes following the Patriots’ loss to Boyle County on Saturday. - Photo by Mike Marsee
Luke Sheperson, left, of Boyle County and Brady Weaver of Lincoln County reach for a rebound during the second quarter Saturday. - Photo by Mike Marsee
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The season came to an end for the Lincoln County Patriots with a heartbreaking loss on their home court in the 12th Region Tournament championship game, 54-48.
Boyle took its largest lead at 45-35 two minutes into the fourth quarter on consecutive baskets by Owen Barnes and Hagan Webb. It was still a nine-point game with 2:20 left.
Two baskets by Jaxon Smith and a 3 from Tramane Alcorn for a 7-2 run pulled Lincoln within 52-48 with 17 seconds left, but the Patriots could get no closer.
Smith led Lincoln with 21 points and seven rebounds, and Alcorn added 18 points.
Lincoln had been on a roll of its own with wins in 11 of its previous 12 games after a 5-5 start.
“We weren’t picked very high to start, and we got on a little bit of a run … and we had a chance to win a region championship on our floor,” Lincoln coach Jeff Jackson said. “I’m really, really proud of our kids for how they progressed as the season went on, for how they handled the COVID, how they handled the snow and ice when we were off for a while. They showed some resiliency and toughness, and a lot of togetherness.”
Jackson said the Patriots missed too many shots from the perimeter and too many near the basket.
“I thought our kids played really, really hard, and I’m proud of the effort they gave. We’ve got to play a little smarter, a little more under control offensively,” he said.
Neither team shot well in the first half — Boyle was 7 for 25, Lincoln was 7 for 24 — but the Rebels hit six of nine shots in the third quarter to take control of the game.
“Given them credit,” Jackson said. “I have a lot of respect for (Boyle coach Dennie Webb) and how he does things, and I know they’ll go and represent the 12th Region the right way.”
This hasn’t been an easy season for any team, and Boyle had to deal with some of the same issues and inconveniences other teams faced along the way, but those were forgotten in the midst of the Rebels’ celebration.
“That makes it pretty special,” the Boyle coach said. “We’ve had some headaches, but oh, yeah, it’s worth it.”
Boys 12th Region Tournament championship
At Lincoln County
Boyle County 13 – 25 – 41 – 54
Lincoln County 9 – 23 – 33 – 48
BOYLE (21-4) — Luke Sheperson 9, Luke Imfeld 20, Hagan Webb 6, Owen Barnes 5, Jagger Gillis 14.
LINCOLN (16-7) — Brady Weaver 2, Tramane Alcorn 18, Jaxon Smith 21, Colton Ralston 7.
All-tournament team
Tramane Alcorn, Lincoln County; K.J. Combs, Pulaski County; Jagger Gillis, Boyle County; Luke Imfeld, Boyle County; Ben McNew, East Jessamine; Daniel Mullins, Rockcastle County; Luke Sheperson, Boyle County; Evan Smith, Southwestern; Jaxon Smith, Lincoln County; Kyle Stephens, McCreary Central; DeAjuan Stepp, West Jessamine; Zion Thomas, East Jessamine; Zach Travis, Pulaski County; Brady Weaver, Lincoln County; Hagan Webb, Boyle County.
