Even though the Lincoln Fighting Zebras have not done well against the Ponderosa Bruins recently (they were 1-8 in their previous nine matchups), they didn't let the past get in their way on Thursday. Lincoln walked away with a 58-50 victory over Ponderosa. The win was familiar territory for Lincoln who now have three in a row.
Lincoln's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Jacob Butler, who dropped a double-double on ten points and ten blocks. Butler is absolutely dominating the block category: he's posted at least two every time he's taken the court this season. Triton Cox was another key contributor, scoring 18 points along with five rebounds.
When it comes to explaining why Ponderosa lost, one person who can't be blamed is Keenan Patterson. Despite the final result, he dropped a double-double on 21 points and 12 rebounds. Patterson is on a roll when it comes to rebounds, as he's now pulled down eight or more in the last three games he's played. Another player making a difference was Lake Liebscher, who scored eight points along with seven rebounds and four steals.
Even though they lost, Ponderosa smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 14 offensive rebounds. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Lincoln only pulled down five offensive rebounds.
Lincoln is on a roll lately: they've won seven of their last eight matches, which provided a massive bump to their 14-7 record this season. As for Ponderosa, they now have a losing record at 10-11.
Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Lincoln will face off against West Park at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. As for Ponderosa, they will head out on the road to take on Nevada Union at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
