2A BOYS: Walker finds shot; Lynx claim title

Dantley Walker searched everywhere for his shot Saturday.

Inside, outside, near the 10-foot-line on a volleyball court, wherever the Lincoln County sharpshooter looked, he came up nearly empty.

Then, in the fourth quarter of the Class 2A Southern League final against Needles at Desert Oasis, it appeared. And never left.

Walker scored 18 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter to lead Lincoln County (24-4) to an 89-85 win over the Mustangs. Both teams advance to the state tournament next week in Reno.

“I just wasn’t making my shot,” Walker said. “I just had more confidence in the fourth quarter. I knew I had to step up.”

Walker made just three of his first 16 shots, including only 1 of 9 3-pointers. He entered the game averaging better than 32 points per game.

“Any time you can slow down Dantley a little, we’re going to struggle on the offensive end,” Lincoln County coach Mike Wood said.
He had just 15 points before hitting consecutive deep 3-pointers from the left wing in the first 47 seconds of the fourth quarter.

“That’s the type of player he is,” Needles coach Jeff Plank said. “You just try to limit his shots and his points.”

A pair of Walker drives to the basket — the latter resulting in a three-point play — with 4:13 to go, gave the Lynx a 75-68 lead, but Needles (16-9) didn’t go away.

Ryan Andrews’ basket inside with 1:06 remaining tied the game at 80-all.

Walker then fed Chandler Katschke for the go-ahead basket with 52 seconds left, starting a 7-0 run that appeared to put away the game.

But Needles again battled back, pulling to within 87-85 on Michael Hills’ 3-pointer with 5.8 seconds to go.

“It’s always a battle when we play them,” Wood said.

A pair of free throws by Bruce Condie finally iced the outcome.

Eric Rippetoe added 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Lynx, who got huge contributions from Tyler Wadsworth and Katschke when Walker was struggling and Rippetoe was in foul trouble.

Wadsworth had 12 points, and Katschke scored nine.

“That’s what makes it tough when other guys step up like that,” Wood said.

Hills led Needles with 28 points and 10 rebounds.

Anthony Ramos scored 17, Andrews and Aaron Burns 12 each, and Aaron Hartwick had 10 points for Needles.

“I really think our team is getting better,” Plank said. “We weren’t even supposed to be here. To go this far and to get to go to state is great.”