In the final minute of play, it came down to host West Lincoln’soutside shooting against the free-throw shooting of Loyd Star. TheHornets had the lead and held on to beat the Bears 69-64 in JackCase Gymnasium Friday night.

With 1:01 left to play, Loyd Star held a four-point, 60-56, leadover West Lincoln. The Hornets went to their spread offense to runtime off the clock and force the Bears to foul.

Tyler Williford, who finished the game with 34 points and 3steals, went 1-for-2 from the charity line followed by Kordae Otiswho was 2-2 to give the Hornets a 7-point, 63-56, edge with 41.9seconds left in the game.

Tyler Smith, who finished with 14 points and 9 rebounds, hit ajumper for the Bears to cut the Hornets’ lead to 63-58. Smith wasassessed a technical foul and Williford made two free throws togive Loyd Star a 65-58 breather.

With 27.8 seconds left to play, Smith nailed his third 3-pointerto trim the Hornets’ lead to 67-61. Williford and Otis went 1-2each down the final stretch as Smith added his third and final3-pointer of the game to cut the deficit to five points, 69-64, atthe end.

“We played well,” said Loyd Star boys coach Gene “Moochie” Brittafter the win. “We got the ball to the right people when we neededto. Williford and Otis came through for us.”

West Lincoln shot eight 3-pointers while Loyd Star made five onthe night.

“We had a pretty good effort,” said West Lincoln boys coach LaneYoung. “We missed a bunch of shots inside the goal.”

Loyd Star (6-1) came out in the first quarter to take a 17-11lead over West Lincoln (1-3). In second-quarter action, the Hornetssaw their lead cut down to four points, 29-25, at the half by theBears.

Powered by Smith’s three-point shooting, Stephen Jones and ShaneLynch, the Bears outscored the Hornets 21-17 to tie the game at46-all going into the fourth quarter.

Lynch directed West Lincoln with 18 points and five rebounds.Jones finished with 16 points and made two steals. Jeremy Byrdpulled down seven rebounds followed by Bradleigh Rice with fiverebounds.

For the Hornets, Drew Case fired in 13 points. Otis finished thegame with seven points, three rebounds and five steals.

Junior high action

The West Lincoln boys clipped Loyd Star 36-26. Powering theBears with 13 points was Brett Rushing. Jeremie Richardson netted10 points.

For Loyd Star, Tradrius Williams led with five points.