The #4 ranked Lincoln Land Loggers played host to the #7 ranked Lake Land Lakers in the championship of the NJCAA Region 24 and Central District Championship on won 57-54.  The Loggers jumped to an early four nothing lead only to see that quickly go away and Lake Land go on a eight nothing run.  The game proved to be a physical matchup as there were very few whistles early on. Lincoln Land had a 16-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.  Lake Land quickly turned the defensive tide in the game and began pressuring Lincoln Land.  " We were aggressive at the rim but didn't get much from it" stated Logger coach Chad Jones.  The Loggers found themselves down 23-22 at the half.  Lincoln Land averages over 80 points a game on the season.  "We couldn't find a way to get the ball in the basket" said Jones.

The second half again saw the Lakers take control.  Three minutes into the half, Megan Harrell took a hard bump at the basketball with now call.  The usually calm Jones quickly picked up a technical foul.  "I had just had enough. Something had to give" said Jones.  This allowed Lake Land to make both free throws and score on the next possession. This put Lake Land up nine points.  The Loggers would quickly and aggressively respond by attacking the basket.  Lincoln Land manage to cut the lead down to 42-39 at the end of the period.

The final quarter was what championship basketball should be like.  Both teams battling hard and defending well.  Lincoln Land would eventually tie the game and take the lead with approximately six minutes to go.  Lake Land quickly responded to retake the lead.  The difference in the game was rebounding. "Things weren't going well for us offensively.  I told my kids at half time they have to do something different.  Win the game with defense or rebounding, but we have to find a different way" said Jones.  The Loggers would do just that.  Lincoln Land pulled down six offensive rebounds in the final five minutes of the game.  The Loggers had a five point lead with under a minute to go when Lake Land drove to the rim and got fouled and made the basket.  The Loggers used a timeout to advance the ball. Lake Land fouled on the inbounds pass and put Lincoln Land at the line.  The Loggers missed both free throws and gave the Lakers a chance to tie or win the game.  The Logger defense held strong on the nest possession and forced a turnover.  Lake Land quickly fouled and again put Lincoln Land at the line.  Durbin Thomas made one of two free throws and left the door open for Lake Land to tie the game.  But once again the Logger defense came through in the clutch and forced a turnover.  Lincoln Land won the championship by a score of 57-54.  The stat sheet was stuffed tonight. Region 24 player of the year Megan Harrell scored a game high 19 points.  All Region selection Sam Lindhorst scored 12 and, despite foul trouble late, Alexis Wade  chipped in ten.  Sophomore Whitney Rumbold pulled down a team high ten rebounds, with two huge offensive boards in the final minutes.  Lindhorst pulled down 11 and Harrell pulled down nine.  The Loggers outrebounded Lake Land 47-28 on the night.  "We didn't play particularly well tonight.  Lake Land had a lot to do with that.  But my kids showed their toughness tonight. True grit.  Kids came off the bench and made plays.  Just pure gets today.  I am so proud of what these kids did today" said Jones.

Lincoln Land improves to 31-2 on the season and punches their ticket to the NJCAA National Championship Tournament.  This seasons version of the Loggers has won 31 games, 16 in a row, an MWAC championship, the Region 24 tournament, and has gone undefeated at home for the first time ever.  The Loggers will await their next opponent which will be announced on Tuesday at the NJCAA selection show.  The national tournament begins March 17^th in Joplin Missouri at Legett and Platt arena on the campus of Missouri Southern State University.