SWEET 16: Patriots fall in first round of KHSAA Championships
Published 1:55 pm Thursday, March 14, 2019
IN THE SPOTLIGHT. Lincoln freshman Jaxon Smith is cheered on by his teammates as he runs out on the floor of Rupp Arena during the introduction of starters in the Patriots' state tournament game.
The Lincoln County High School boys basketball team’s season came to an end Thursday.
The Patriots (23-13) fell to Madisonville-North Hopkins 57-49 in the first round of the KHSAA Boys State Basketball Championships at Rupp Arena.
The Maroons (30-5) entered the game with a 22-game win streak.
The Patriots were coming off a strong postseason run that included a win over Mercer County without starter Jaxon Smith (flu) in the first round of the 12th Region Tournament, a five-overtime victory over Wayne County in the semifinals and a championship win over 45th District rival Danville in the finals.
The state tourney game was the final high school game for seniors Darius Napier, Blake Smith and Bryson Yaden, as well as Sawyer Carrier. Carrier missed most of the season after suffering a broken foot in December at Louisville Eastern but he was cleared to dress for the state game.
