Basketball Recap: Kalaesia Lincoln's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Holly Springs over Green Level

Holly Springs lost against Green Level back in January and unfortunately they wound up with the same result on Tuesday. The Holly Springs Golden Hawks lost 65-44 to the Green Level Gators. While losing is never fun, the Golden Hawks can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina basketball rankings (they are ranked 341st, while the Gators are ranked 108th).

Several Golden Hawks players turned in solid performances despite ultimately coming up short. Perhaps the best among those players was Kalaesia Lincoln, who posted ten points and seven rebounds. That's the most boards Lincoln has posted since back in November of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Lydia Thomas, who had eight points.

Even though they lost, Holly Springs smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 24 offensive boards. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 9 offensive rebounds per game earlier this season, but in their last 15 matchups they've averaged 9.1.

Green Level was led to victory by Claire Barber and Stella Eckhart. Barber shot 5-for-7 from deep and almost dropped a triple-double on 23 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, while Eckhart went 6 of 8 on her way to 17 points and four steals. That makes it four consecutive games in which Barber has scored at least a third of Green Level's points. Ryan Baker was another key player, putting up ten points.

Holly Springs has been struggling recently as they've lost five of their last six games, which put a noticeable dent in their 6-14 record this season. As for Green Level, their victory was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 14-6.

Holly Springs will head out on the road to challenge Cary at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Green Level has already played their next contest, a 65-58 win against Apex Friendship on the 5th.