GRAND ISLAND — Lincoln Southwest made enough plays down the stretch to hold off hot-shooting Grand Island 72-67 Thursday night in Heartland Athletic Conference boys basketball action.
Twin brothers Uzziah Sanders and Makkiah Sanders scored 20 and 18 points, respectively, as the Silver Hawks (9-5) escaped with a road victory, playing in their first game without starting point-guard Jaxyn Cruse, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Kayvion Reynolds scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half for Southwest and teammate Dakari Wilson finished with 10 points.
Broxton Barrientos scored a team-high 17 points for the Islanders (6-9), who shot 54.9% from the floor, including going 8 of 19 from 3-point range. Grand Island’s Victor Fisher Jr. had a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Babur Choul scored 16 points and Ethan Coslor scored 11.
Grand Island’s Riley Holling and Fisher tied for team-high with six assists. The Islanders were credited with assists on 17 of their 28 field goals.
Lincoln Southwest countered Grand Island’s deft shooting by hitting 27 of 53 shots from the floor (50.9%). The Silver Hawks were even better from 3-point range, finishing 10 of 17 (58.8%).
Grand Island used a 9-0 run to build a 12-7 lead on Choul’s driving basket with 3:38 left in the first quarter and led 17-13 after one. Later, Choul finished a fastbreak with a two-handed flush and Carter Bernal hit a 3-pointer to help the Islanders take a 29-25 advantage with 2:15 left before the intermission.
However, the Silver Hawks outscored Grand Island 10-0 over the final 1:44 of the second quarter to lead 35-29 at halftime. Hudson Mezger came off the bench to drain a pair of 3-pointers in the last 51 seconds to key Lincoln Southwest’s run.
The Islanders tied the score at 37-37 on a Barrientos free throw with 5:34 to play in the third quarter, but couldn’t regain the lead. The Silver Hawks led 55-39 after three quarters and enjoyed their largest margin at 72-62 on two free throws by Reynolds with 36.2 seconds remaining.
Fisher sparked Grand Island’s final surge with back-to-back baskets and a free throw by Barrientos after a steal cut the Islanders’ deficit to 72-67 with 6.5 seconds to go. Lincoln Southwest committed another turnover with 4.1 seconds left, but GISH couldn’t convert, missing a 3-pointer with two seconds remaining.
Grand Island will next play in the HAC Tournament next week. Official tournament pairings will be released Saturday.
Lincoln Southwest 72, Grand Island 67
Lincoln Southwest (9-5) ……13 22 20 17—72
Grand Island (6-9)……………..17 12 20 18—67
LINCOLN SOUTHWEST—Uzziah Sanders 20, Makkiah Sanders 18, Kayvion Reynolds 17, Dakari Wilson 10, Hudson Mezger 6, Jacob Hecht 1.
GRAND ISLAND—Babur Choul 16, Victor Fisher Jr. 16, Ethan Coslor 11, Broxton Barrientos 17, Riley Holling 4, Carter Bernal 3.
