If it's not broke, don't fix it.

One year after capturing the program's first state title, No. 1 Lincoln used the same recipe that led them to three wins last March — defense.

The Bulldogs suffocated No. 7 Kingfisher in the quarterfinal round of the OSSAA Class 4A State Tournament on Tuesday morning in Oklahoma City, as Lincoln picked right back up where it left off with defensive effort.

The Bulldogs led from start to finish, holding Kingfisher to just 30% from the floor as a team and one basket in the 3rd quarter.

"I thought our girls played with great effort on the defensive end of the floor and that was the difference for us," said Lincoln head coach Melody Stewart.

Lincoln (27-2) jumped out to an early lead, pulling ahead 8-1 early and 20-8 through a quarter.

But Kingfisher responded, keeping the margin at 12 heading into halftime.

However, Lincoln turned up the intensity on the defensive end of the floor out of half, holding Kingfisher to just 1-of-9 shooting in the 3rd.

The Bulldogs defensive effort helped them to a 42-22 lead heading into the 4th.

Lincoln held Kingfisher without a three point basket, as the Yellowjackets were 0-of-12 in the game.

The Bulldogs also forced 17 turnovers in the win.

"Defense travels and that is something we'll continue to lean on," Stewart said.

Senior wing Maddi Stewart had a game-high 13 points and seven rebounds to lead the Bulldogs.

Senior guard Alexis Leyva added 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting. She also had five rebounds and three assists.

Junior forward Jayla Albert had 12 points, five rebounds and three steals on 5-of-8 from the floor.

Lincoln shot 35% from the floor as a team and made 4-of-15 threes (27%).

"As we move into Thursday, we'll look to be a little sharper offensively, but I'm really proud of this group," said Stewart.

The Bulldogs had a 12-4 edge in transition points, as well as a 35-27 advantage on the boards.

Lincoln had 16 offensive rebounds for 11 second chance points in the win and assisted on 10 of 17 made field goals.

The Bulldogs opened the game with back to back threes, as sophomore guard Azariah Woodruff ripped a left wing three, followed by another triple from Leyva.

Leyva got a steal on the next potions and missed what would have been a beautiful fast break reverse layup. 

However, Stewart was right there, out muscling three Yellowjackets for the offensive rebound and stick back.

Kingfisher trimmed the margin to 10-7 before Lincoln responded with a big run to close the quarter.

Stewart converted a three-point play with 3:30 to go, pushing the lead back to six, before senior Kayli Atkinson corralled an offensive rebound and dished to Leyva for another open triple.

The senior swished the long ball from the top of the three with 2:22 to go, putting Lincoln back up 16-8.

Albert grabbed a missed three from Stewart shortly after for a stick back to make it 18-8 and then the junior converted a transition opportunity with 18 seconds to go, closing the quarter on a 10-1 run.

Lincoln led by 15 late in the half, as Atkinson ripped a left wing three on a fast break, making it 27-12 with 2:58 to go.

The Bulldogs led 32-18 at half.

Junior guard Ivey Wheeler made one of the plays of the day late in the third, as she knifed through the Kingfisher defense and stopped a left-handed shot around a defender, kissing it off the glass and drawing the foul.

Her free throw gave Lincoln its largest lead of the game at 40-22 with 1:17 to go in the 3rd.

The Bulldogs will play in their 6th straight state semifinal tomorrow night, when Lincoln faces No. 4 McLoud at 6 p.m. in Yukon.

Lincoln has won 12 straight playoff games dating back to last season.

Photos by Lee Talley