Lincoln County Middle School emerged from three straight weekends of state tournament action with a runner-up trophy, a fourth-place trophy and an Elite 8 finish.

The seventh-grade Lady Eagles, led by coach Chansler Gilbert, came oh-so-close to claiming a state title. Lincoln rode a 5-0 run into the championship game in its division, but Whitley County would be the team’s undoing as the Lady Colonels topped the Lady Patriots 32-24 in the Kentucky Basketball Commission (KBC) State Tournament final.

Lincoln, which was undefeated until the title game, held a 22-19 lead at the end of the third quarter, but Whitley outpointed the Lady Eagles 13-2 in the final frame to earn the championship trophy.

Lincoln earned its spot in the tourney final with a 25-24 nailbiter win over Pulaski Southern Middle School.

The semifinal edger would be the only down-to-the-wire game for the Lady Eagles. They put up double-digit victories in the other wins, with their largest margin of victory 35 points, a 48-13 win over Casey County in Pool Play.

Scores from their other games were a 34-6 opening win over Bourbon County, a 40-27 win against Caudill Middle, and a 42-31 win over Anderson County in the Elite 8 round.

The Lady Eagles finished 27-1 overall.

Lady Eagles Talynne Shearer and Makayla Greer were named to the KBC All-Tournament Team.

The Lady Eagles hauled home the fourth-place trophy in the KBC 6th Grade State Tournament.

Lincoln (21-2) scored double-digit victories until they ran into North Laurel. The Lady Eagles could not muster the offense needed to take down North Laurel, falling 42-29 to the eventual state champion.

Lincoln, which is coached by Danny Griffin, opened tourney play with a 32-20 win over Pineville Middle School and a 52-18 victory over Southern Middle of Lexington. The Lady Eagles defeated Paris Middle 46-20 in the Elite 8 round and topped Jackson County Middle 37-25.

The Lady Eagles had two players named all-tournament with Hallie Mullins named 1st Team All-Tournament and Alexia Baldock named 2nd Team All-Tournament.

All three LCMS girls teams reached the Elite 8 in the KBC state tourneys, with the eighth-grade team rounding out the trio.

The Lady Eagles, coached by Rebecca Shearer, saw their tourney run end in the Elite 8 round of the KBC State Tournament as Meece Middle School knocked Lincoln out of contention with a 51-32 win.

Lincoln (18-8) scored a 49-22 win over Elkhorn Middle School in the opening round of Pool Play, then followed with a 34-20 win over Valley Middle and a 40-18 rout of Whitley County Middle.

The eighth-grade Lady Eagles also had two athletes named all tourney. Chloe Ralston was named 1st Team All-Tournament and Talynne Shearer was named 2nd Team All-State.

The members of the LCMS girls basketball teams are: Alexia Baldock, Chelsa Blair, Peyton Boyd, Macy Carrier, Emily Estes, Makayla Greer, Kaylee Griffin, Mercedes Hensley, Kaitlyn Hunt, Emily Jeffries, Gaitlin Lewis, Reagan McKnight, Hallie Mullins, Milah Mullins, Trinity Price, Chloe Ralston, Taylen Ralston, Chelsa Reed, Emmie Releford, Maci Rice, Talynne Shearer, Ellie Sims, Bailee Snow, Jayle Underwood, Sierra Whitis, Tori Wilburn and Laken York.