When the Lincoln Lady Eagles traveled to Hagerstown on Thursday, Jan. 16, to renew their decades-long rivalry with the Lady Tigers, both teams desperately needed a win. The Lady Tigers entered the game with only one win on the season; Lincoln entered the game with only three wins and both teams were winless in Tri-Eastern Conference play. It was not a game that drew statewide interest, but for the two teams, the game meant a lot. Both teams were motivated by program and community pride, and the intensity level of the game reflected that. The fans in attendance were treated to 36 minutes of all-out effort by both teams.
The Eagles opened the game with a 2-point field goal from Paige Pitcock and a 3-pointer from Rebecca Harmer to take a 5-0 lead. The Tigers fought back to cut their deficit to 12-9 at the end of the first quarter and opened the second quarter with back-to-back scores, taking a 17-15 lead at halftime.
There were 11 lead changes and seven ties before the teams were deadlocked at 44-44 at the end of regulation, forcing an overtime period. The Eagles took the lead on a Paige Pitcock field goal to open the overtime and never trailed, eventually taking a 51-48 win. Mackenzie Johnson got off a halfcourt shot as time expired, which would have forced a second overtime, that was dangerously close.
Paige Pitcock led the Eagles with a career-high 20 points, and Rebecca Harmer added 16 points, also a career high. Johnson led the Tigers with 19 points, which was a career high for her.
Lincoln head coach Dylan Miller said he was satisfied with his team’s performance.
”It was two teams that you could really tell wanted to win,” Miller said. “I am happy with my team. They showed resilience and maintained their poise. It is not easy to win in overtime on the road. I am proud of my team. Credit to Hagerstown as well. It was a fun game.”
Hagerstown head coach Brad Catey said he couldn’t fault his team.
“They gave it everything they had,” Catey said. “We knew the game would probably come down to one or two possessions and that is what happened. Both teams left it all on the floor.”
Lincoln (4-13, 1-4 TEC) 12 3 16 13 7 51
Addyson Pitcock 4, Aubrey Trent 1, Paige Pitcock 20, Alyssa Waddell 0, Reilynn Ferguson 5, Harmer 16, Allison Clayton 0, Morgan Gambill 5 — Total 51
Hagerstown (1-16, 0-7 TEC) 9 8 15 12 4 48
Johnson 19, Bella Thalls 7, Havanna Harris 5, Katee Cowan 2, Lilly Catey 5, Skylar Brown 6, Avery Blunk 4 — Total 48
JV results: Hagerstown 23, Lincoln 10 (Two quarters)
A version of this article will appear in the January 22 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.