DELPHOS — It was there and then it was gone.
For most of Lincolnview’s 45-42 boys basketball win over Delphos Jefferson on Friday night the possibility of the Wildcats upsetting the No.1-ranked Division IV team in the state was within reach.
But the Lancers (17-0, 6-0 Northwest Conference) came from behind in the last six minutes and survived three missed Jefferson shots, including a 3-pointer that would have sent the game into overtime, in the last 15 seconds.
Hayden Ludwig scored 15 points – 12 of them in the second half – and Chandler Adams had 11 points to lead Lincolnview. Trevor Neate pulled down 10 rebounds.
Trey Smith’s 19 points led Jefferson (11-5, 3-2 NWC) and Jace Stockwell scored 16 points.
Jefferson led for all but around a minute of the first half and extended a 20-19 halftime lead to 26-19 when Smith scored three times, two on offensive rebounds, in the first 57 seconds of the third quarter.
At that point, Crestview coach Brett Hammons called a timeout and talked about the need for someone to step up.
The first player to respond to that urging was senior Hayden Ludwig, who scored Lincolnview’s next eight points on back-to-back threes and an inside move.
The lead changed hands four times after that but Jefferson could never get more than two points ahead in the final 13 minutes of the game.
“When we got down seven, I called that timeout and we talked about how players needed to step up and Hayden did that for us. He went on a little run there to kind of get us back in the ball game,” Hammons said.
“We knew coming in here it was a different environment and that they had two really good players in Smith and Stockwell and it was going to be a challenge to try to contain them,” he said.
Lincolnview took the lead for good when Austin Leeth drove for a bucket, was fouled and hit the free throw to make it 38-36 with 6:18 to play.
The Lancers got the lead out to five points twice before Jefferson cut it to 44-42 on a 3-pointer by Smith with 1:07 left in the game.
Down 45-42, Jefferson put up three shots in the final seconds but all of them were off target.
While beating the No. 1 team would have been something to celebrate, Jefferson coach Marc Smith said he didn’t use it as a motivational factor leading up to the game.
“We didn’t talk about it one bit. Honestly, we did not talk about it,” he said. “We don’t make a big production of who we’re going to play. I have not given out a written scouting report to this bunch all year.
“They (Lincolnview) are a good basketball team. They have five guys who are very, very skilled. That presents issues for you. Hayden Ludwig stepped up for them. We gambled. We know Hayden is a really good player but our focus was on trying to contain Adams. You have to gamble somewhere,” he said.
“Hats off to them. They’re really good. They’re making plays when they have to make. The ball bounced their way when they needed it. That’s part of having a good season.”
Hammons said, “Jefferson did a great job on defense of stopping us in the first half. I think that’s the lowest total we’ve had in a half. I’m just proud of how the guys battled.”
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