Decatur teams drop games at Lincoln last week Tuesday

— Arriving for a game with only six healthy players is a bad sign, especially going up against the defending conference champions.

Lincoln had no problem with Decatur on Tuesday night, defeating the depleted Lady Bulldogs 64-39 in nonconference play. Lincolnheld Decatur to two field goals in each of the first two quarters and the Lady Wolves cleared the bench after taking a 51-23 lead with 7:23 to play.

Hannah Perkins scored all 14 of her points in the first half for Lincoln (5-5), which also got 13 points from Tonya Villines and 10 from Rashelle Goldman. Kimmy Nelson had 21 points andSeanna Shaw added 11 for Decatur (2-5).

The Lady Bulldogs have only eight players on the team, and they were at a bigger disadvantage Tuesday with one out because of sickness and another lost for the season with a knee injury.

Lincoln quickly took control by outscoring Decatur 18-6 in the first quarter andled 27-11 at halftime. Decatur pulled to within 21-11 in the second quarter when Tiffany Wright hit a turnaround jumper and Nelson followed with a three-pointer. But Lincoln scored the last six points of the first half, including a three-pointer Goldman, to regain control.

Lincoln used 17 players, but most of them didn’t enter until the fourth quarterwhen the outcome had been decided.

“It’s definitely tough to play when you only have six kids,” Decatur Coach Donnie Smith said. “Kids get tired and make mistakes they normally don’t do when they have fresh legs. I wouldn’t mind having about half of [Lincoln’s] bench.”

Lincoln’s .500 record is a bit deceiving for a team that finished 25-5 last season andplayed in the state tournament. The Lady Wolves have played a tough nonconference schedule that includes two losses each to Prairie Grove and Gentry and a loss to Charleston.

“We want to continue to build our program and get back to the state tournament,” Lincoln Coach Deon Birkes said. “You do that by playing good competition.”

Perkins got Lincoln off to a good start with her longrange shooting. The senior guard hit consecutive threepointers, then sneaked inside for a basket off a rebound to put Lincoln ahead 15-4.

Perkins was in line for an even bigger scoring night before picking up her fourth foul early in the third quarter.

“It’s nice to have a player like Hannah hit a couple right off the bat and get us going,” Birkes said. “It makes everything else a lot easier.”BOYS LINCOLN 78, DECATUR 52

Lincoln jumped to a 21-10 lead after one quarter and cruised to a victory over Decatur.

Dakota Leming scored 14 points to lead a balanced scoring attack for Lincoln (5-5). Hunter Beal scored 29 points to lead Decatur (3-5).

Lincoln jumped to a 21-10 lead after one quarter and cruised to a victory over Decatur.

Dakota Leming scored 14 points to lead a balanced scoring attack for Lincoln (5-5). Hunter Beal scored 29

Sports, Pages 10 on 12/16/2009