Missoula Loyola had their second game of 2019 on Friday night as the Rams served the undefeated Mission Bulldogs their first lose of the season, winning 85-57 at the Ram Athletic Center in a Class B boys basketball showdown.
It was a test for both sides on who was going to be able to break the full court press, forcing both teams to run with the ball once the ball was in bounded in order to break either teams suffocating press. Charles Burns and Cooper Waters came out hot, each scoring four points in the paint, Waters added to his tally by knocking down a three ball to spark a first quarter run by Loyola.
In the second quarter the sleeping beast was awoken and Jack Lincoln put on a show from there for the Ramily, scoring eight points in the paint in the second and third quarters, and capped is play off going 7-10 from the free throw line. Despite Lincolns scoring tare Mission’s Jacob Hugs and Jedi Christy tried to keep the Bulldogs within striking range with hot hands, Hugs finishing the night with 14 points to lead all Missions scores.
Bogged down with their key players in foul trouble Mission was not able to keep up with the Rams in the second half, getting out scored by Loyola by 12 in the third and eight in the fourth. Between Lincolns hot hand at the basket and the tensity on defense by his supporting cast, Lincoln and Rams coasted to back to back victories to start 2019.