Big win for the boys opener!

Lincoln used the play of Zach Snyder and Payton Hawkins down the stretch to rally from a fourth quarter deficit and score a 64-58 overtime win, over Buckhannon-Upshur in the Cougars opening game of the boys basketball season on Tuesday night. The Cougars (1-0) led by 11 points, 33-22 at halftime only to go stagnant offensively in the second half and watch the Buccaneers (1-2) used a 12-0 run early in the fourth quarter to take a seven-point, 52-45 lead with 3:16 to play. Mason Hyre led the way with seven points during the spurt and scored all 11 of his points in the second half to stake B-U to the lead. However, the Cougars, who made 10-of-22 shots from behind the 3-point arc, got a pair of treys from Snyder and another from Payton Moore during a 9-0 run for a 54-52 lead with 1:46 remaining. “We have to avoid stretches where we did not put the ball in the basket, but we had several players knock down some big shots when we needed to,” Lincoln coach Jordan Toth said. “Coming down the stretch, I am very proud of our guys for hanging in there and making the plays.” The Bucs quickly tied the game at 54-apiece when Will McCauley made a baseline jumper with 1:24 to play. Lincoln held for a final shot that did not fall and the game went to overtime. It was Hawkins turn to come up with a couple of baskets for the Cougars as he hit two 3-pointers in the first two minutes of overtime with his final a bankshot from the top of the key to put Lincoln ahead for good, 60-57 with 2:16 showing on the clock. The Cougars defense was able to hold B-U the rest of the way and finished the game off at the free throw line. Snyder and Jacob Kellar both made both ends of a one-and-one situation in the final 25 seconds to preserve the victory.