When Lincoln High School’s girls basketball team was stuck with a 4-11 record, head coach James Townsend made a bold prediction.
“We will win CIF,” said Townsend, who doubled down, adding, “mark my word.”
The reason for his optimism was that the Hornets resembled a packed emergency room at the time. Two key players were nursing shoulder injuries. Another was in concussion protocol.
“Once we got healthy,” said Townsend, “I knew we’d be fine.”
Townsend knew what he was talking about. Inside the comfortable confines of its home gym, Lincoln defeated Christian 64-49 Tuesday night to advance to the CIF San Diego Section Division 2 championship game. The Hornets will meet the winner of the La Costa Canyon-El Centro Central 5 p.m. Friday at Cal State San Marcos.
After losing nine of 10 games early in the season, the Hornets (13-12) are on a roll, winning nine of their last 10. Christian fell to 20-8.
Lincoln wasted no time taking control of the game. The Hornets won the opening tip and Anijah Stowers drove hard to the hoop for a layup and 2-0 lead seven seconds into the game.
Lincoln led 14-8 after the first quarter and stretched the lead to 16 points late in the second period, 34-18. Christian scored the last four points of the half to close it to 34-22.
Lincoln was more dominant inside and on defense in the first half. Forward Shamiyah Walker, who came in averaging 3.9 points per game, scored 10 in the first half, all inside the lane. And the athletic Anijah Stowers brought the ball up the floor, then worked her way inside to score 13 points in the opening 16 minutes.
Christian wouldn’t go quietly away in the second half. The Patriots pulled to within eight in the first 45 seconds of the third quarter, only for Lincoln to rebound and build the lead up to a game-high 16. Back came the spunky Patriots, closing the deficit to 47-38 at the end of the quarter.
Christian, though, would get no closer than nine the rest of the game.
Stowers led Lincoln with 19 points. Malissa Mckoy scored 15 and Walker finished with 12.
Jazmyn Bugg led Christian with 16 points. Leah Spears and Sierra Weckback scored 12.
Motivation has not been a problem for the Hornets. Lincoln finished 17-10 last season, but the San Diego Section ruled the Hornets could not go to the playoffs because of recruiting violations by the previous coach, Robbie Sandoval.
“They were heartbroken,” said Townsend. “But they put in the work in the offseason. They dialed into the weightroom and the track. They dialed into the conditioning. They were hungry. They had a point to prove.”
It was the third time Lincoln and Christian met this season. They split the first two games. Christian moved up to Division 2 this season after winning the Division 3 title last February.