Dan Noble admits the thought had more than just crossed his mind.
After a 16-4 regular season, his Lincoln High team was very much at risk of missing the state tournament following a loss in the district semifinals to Lincoln Northeast.
“We had some kids that were pretty teary-eyed after that game,” Noble said. “We thought our chances of getting in on a wild card were not great. It was a pretty helpless feeling.”
But over the next three days, the four teams ahead of Lincoln High in the points standings would win district championships, giving Noble and the sixth-ranked Links a wild card in Class A. They’ll face No. 4 Omaha Central in Thursday night’s 8:45 game, the third straight appearance for Lincoln High in the state tournament.
“We’re thankful to get a second chance,” said Noble, the Links’ first-year coach. “You’ve got as good a chance as anybody because you’re there. We’re very fortunate.”
They’re also dangerous. Lincoln High is one of only two teams in the state with wins over half the Class A field. The other is fifth-ranked Omaha Bryan. And Bryan and Lincoln High are the only teams with wins over top-ranked Norfolk.
Four of the Links’ five losses have come by four points or fewer, including two setbacks to second-ranked Lincoln Southeast.
“I think our schedule has prepared us for anybody,” Noble said. “We’ve played some really good teams.”
But there are warts, too. That list has to start with the loss to Lincoln Northeast, a team the Links had beaten 62-28 in their regular-season meeting. The Rockets entered the district meeting with a 5-15 record.
“We took some things for granted, I think,” Noble said. “I thought we learned a very valuable lesson.”
At times, the Links have had problems scoring. In their five losses, they have broken the 50-point mark just once. In 16 wins they’re averaging almost 62 per game, scoring less than 60 in only three victories.
They scored 76 on Central, their Thursday night foe, and that was their high-water mark until an 81-point outburst against Columbus late in the season.
Senior guard Tommy Johnson said while it may take another big effort on offense to keep up with the Eagles, it’s the other end of the floor that the Links will focus on.
“They can go on big runs,” Johnson said. “They can put points up in a hurry. Our backbone is playing defense. We’ve got to play defense.”
Contact the writer:
850-0781, nickrubek@hotmail.com
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