Ticket punched.
The Lincoln Christian boys basketball program is headed back to the state tournament for the first time since 2017, thanks to a vintage 57-45 win last Saturday in the area consolation finals over No. 10 Community Christian.
No. 7 Lincoln (20-10) raced out to a big lead, getting off to a fast start after falling to No. 1 Millwood in the area championship just 24 hours prior.
The Bulldogs opened the game on a 12-2 run, thanks to some deep triples from freshman Parker McDaniel.
Senior Isaiah Campbell drilled another three from the corner to make it 15-5 with 1:50 to go in the quarter.
The teams traded threes again, as Lincoln senior Grayson Hampton swished in one from the top of the key to make it 18-8 with a minute to go in the 1st.
After trailing 18-10 heading into the 2nd, Lincoln cooled off and allowed CCS to go on a run, as the Royals cut the lead to 20-18 with just under three minutes to go in the half.
But six straight from Lincoln, including a driving floater from the left via senior guard Derek Stokes pushed the lead back out to eight at 26-18 with 1:30 to go in the quarter.
The Bulldogs stretched it to double digits before the Royals answered with a three just before half to make it 28-21.
McDaniel opened the 3rd with four straight to push the lead to 11 before the teams traded buckets.
However, McDaniel, who led the Bulldogs with 23 on the night, ripped his deepest three of the night, a contested rainbow from the right wing to put Lincoln back up double-digits at 39-28 with a minute to go in the 3rd.
The Bulldogs led by 10 to start the 4th and opened the quarter with a bucket, as Lincoln had four chances after crashing the offensive glass.
Senior Cannon Williams finally gathered and scored to make it 43-31 early in the 4th.
CCS cut it to nine before Stokes hit another runner to push the margin back to 49-38 midway through the final quarter.
The Bulldogs made their free throws down the stretch, as McDaniel and Stokes closed things out at the line to send the Bulldogs to the Big House.
Lincoln was 10-for-10 from the foul line in the 4th.
Stokes had 21 for the Bulldogs, while Campbell had six, Williams had four and Hampton had three, to go along with 13 rebounds.
Lincoln made seven threes in the win and was 16-of-17 from the line in the win.
The Bulldogs will play familiar foe Cascia Hall at the Big House in the opening round of the state tournament on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
Lincoln beat No. 3 Cascia on Jan. 7 at home 61-59 when Williams grabbed a rebound and finished the put back to beat the buzzer.
The Commandos won the return visit to central Tulsa on Feb. 11 when they pulled away late 77-67.
The Bulldogs would play the winner of No. 2 Crooked Oak or No. 9 Washington on Friday at 10:30 a.m.
Lincoln lost to Crooked Oak in the final regular season game on Feb. 17 at home, falling 73-42.
The Bulldogs are looking for the first state tournament win in program history.
