Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By: Casey Roberts

Contributing Writer

 

The Lincoln County Patriots’ season came to a heartbreaking end on March 5, falling 46-42 in double overtime to Pulaski County in the opening round of the 12th Region Boys Basketball Tournament.

The loss concluded an 18-13 campaign for the Patriots, who battled through a challenging schedule, competing in one of the toughest districts in the state. Despite falling short of their ultimate goal, Lincoln County showed promise with a young roster that gained valuable experience under head coach Jeff Jackson, who made his 19th career 12th Region Tournament appearance.

Facing the back-to-back defending regional champions, the Patriots were familiar with Pulaski County, having edged them out in another double-overtime battle, 64-62, on Feb. 12. The rematch proved to be just as intense, but this time, the Maroons found a way to escape with the victory.

Pulaski jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Braden Fugate got the Patriots on the board with a three-pointer midway through the first quarter. Lincoln’s offense struggled to find a rhythm early, as Cash Baird added a basket, but the Maroons held a 7-5 lead after one quarter.

Fugate gave the Patriots a spark in the second quarter, hitting back-to-back three-pointers to give Lincoln its first lead at 11-9. Sawyer Robbins followed with a basket and later knocked down a three, keeping the game even at 16-16 at halftime.

Baird opened the second half with three points to put Lincoln ahead 19-16, but Pulaski answered with a run to reclaim a 22-21 lead entering the fourth quarter. Robbins responded with a three-point play to put Lincoln back in front, but the game remained tied at 30-30 with two minutes left in regulation. The Maroons held for the final shot, but Lincoln’s defense stood strong, forcing overtime.

Pulaski surged ahead in the first extra period, taking a 34-30 lead, but Baird responded with four straight points to even the game at 34-34. The Patriots again forced a miss at the buzzer, sending the game into a second overtime.

The Maroons struck first in the second overtime, scoring five straight points to take a 39-34 lead. Fugate answered with a clutch three-pointer, but Lincoln was unable to complete the comeback as Pulaski held on for the win, eliminating the Patriots from the tournament.

Despite the tough loss, Jackson praised his team’s growth throughout the season.

“We go in every year wanting to win the district and win the region, and obviously, that didn’t happen. But we had one senior, started three sophomores, and were very young and inexperienced,” Jackson said. “Braden was the only kid we had who had played in a regional tournament, and we lost several close games. That comes down to lack of experience in those pressure situations. But I thought we improved as the year went on.”

Lincoln County’s 18-13 season featured several key moments, including early wins over Lafayette, Harrison County, Marion County, and Danville in mid-January. The Patriots’ biggest win of the year came against Pulaski County in February, as they outlasted the Maroons in a double-overtime thriller.

 

The Patriots entered the 45th District Tournament with momentum, rolling past Kentucky School for the Deaf, 98-23, secured a hard fought win over Boyle County, 50-46, before falling to DCA, 54-40, in the 45th District championship game.

Although the team fell short in the region, Jackson emphasized how important this season was for his young roster.

“One of the goals we had, other than winning, was to get these kids into the region tournament so they could gain that experience and understand what it takes to play in front of a big regional crowd,” Jackson said. “I thought our kids handled some things pretty well, and we made strides. We’re already looking forward to next season.”

The Patriots will lose Braden Fugate, their lone senior, who played a key role throughout the season, finishing with 349 points (11.6 PPG). However, Lincoln returns a strong core of players, including Cash Baird (14.3 PPG, 43.1% FG), Sawyer Robbins (11.0 PPG), and Owen Willoughby (121 rebounds, 4.2 RPG).

Jackson expects Robbins, who battled injuries this season, to take a big step forward.

“Sawyer made the all-tournament team in the region, and I thought he played his best game of the year,” Jackson said. “He had some health issues that slowed him down—but he overcame and he’s back. Owen is going to get better, and Cash just loves to play and works really hard.”

Other players poised for bigger roles include Clay Pendygraft, Tucker Foster, and rising sophomores who have shown promise. Jackson noted that the team is already focused on improvement, with offseason training set to begin immediately.

“We’re starting back with some things tomorrow. The season isn’t even over 24 hours, and we’re already looking ahead,” Jackson said. “These guys are committed. They like each other, they run around together off the floor, and that’s a good thing. They’ve already set their goals—to win the district and the region.”

With a core group of returning talent and the lessons learned from a challenging season, the Lincoln County Patriots are determined to take the next step in 2025.