By Jeff Motz
LincolnPrepSports.com

Just when you thought the game was in Lincoln High's hands, Lincoln North Star found a way to rally back.

However, the Navigator rally fell short late in the game and the Links held on for a 59-54 victory in boys basketball Saturday night at the Earl Johnson Gym.

With Lincoln High up 56-40 with under four minutes left in the game, North Star rallied on a 22-9 run, sparked by senior guard Sam Juracek.  Twelve of his 17 points came during the run.

The Links (2-3), however, managed to hit some free throws (3-of-10 in the final three minutes) down the stretch and kept the Gators from further cutting into their lead.

North Star (1-5) only led twice early in the first quarter, before Lincoln High finished with a 13-0 run and a 16-5 lead.  The Gators cut the Links lead to 25-20 in the second quarter and got as close as three (34-31) in the third period before Jaylin Hunter caught an alley oop for a basket and Morgan Perry nailed a mid-range shot to extend the lead back to seven.

Perry finished with a game-high 18 points, while Sammy Richardson scored 15 points and Hunter added 11 points in the Lincoln High win.

North Star's 6-7 junior center Brock Johnson added 14 points in the loss.