Friday Flashback: 2016 D-IV state semis

Note: The first installment of the VW independent’s new Friday Flashback feature takes us back to March of 2016 and the Division IV boys basketball state semifinals at Ohio State University.  The Lincolnview Lancers squared off against the Jackson Center Tigers. Below is the story as it appeared after the game.

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

COLUMBUS — The Lincolnview Lancers had all they could handle from Jackson Center — for three quarters that is. After those three periods of intense, defense-dominated basketball, the Lancers finally broke the game open in the final stanza to beat Jackson Center 52-39 and earn a berth in the Division IV state finals.

It wasn’t easy, though, and, while all the Lancers played well, at least some of the credit for the win goes to Trevor Neate, who was all over the court in helping lead Lincolnview (27-1) to the gritty win, including a buzzer beater at the end of the second quarter to give the Lancers a 32-30 lead — and some crucial momentum — heading into the final stanza.

Derek Youtsey stoked that momentum with a trey just 15 seconds into the fourth quarter and Lincolnview was off to the races, and a trip to the state finals.

Defensively, Austin Leeth put the clamps on Drew Sosby, one of the Tigers’ two biggest scoring threats, holding him to seven points in the game, while Chandler Adams owned the low post in leading the Lancers in scoring with 14 points, nearly all of those layups. Leeth also added 10 points for Lincolnview, including two key three-pointers when his team was struggling on offense.

Although he didn’t contribute much offensively, Sosby was a key Jackson Center player on defense, as his quick hands and anticipation allowed him to steal the ball several times just as the Lancers appeared to have a chance to pull away in the first three quarters.

After a scrappy first half, Lincolnview owned the second half, outscoring Jackson Center 31-18 to pull away. The Tigers didn’t help their own cause, though, missing a number of easy shots during the game.

Lincolnview trailed by a point, 11-10, after eight minutes of scrappy basketball from both teams, but flipped the score in the second quarter to tie the game at 21-all at the half. The Lancers began their move late in the third quarter, after Jackson Center was able to erase an early 26-21 lead, and Neate’s jumper at the buzzer was the capper on the comeback.

Lincolnview grabbed the lead for good in the final stanza, outscoring the Tigers 20-9 in the quarter. The Lancers shot nearly 70 percent in the second half, while holding Jackson Center to under 30 percent in the same time period.

Brady Wildermuth led the Tigers (24-5) with 20 points, including a three-pointer from Jackson Centers’ 6-6 post player.

Lincolnview shot 57.5 percent from the field (19 of 33), while holding the Tigers to 32.6 percent (15 of 46) from the field, although Jackson Center hit six three-pointers in the game.

The Lancers were 9 of 12 from the free throw line (75 percent), while the Tigers made just half of their free throws (5 of 10).

Lincolnview will play today at 5:15 p.m. in the state finals against the tournament’s Cinderella team, Willoughby Cornerstone Christian (16-12), which defeated The Wellington School 73-67 in the other Division IV state final.