LAKE MEAD CLASSIC: Walker drops 43 to spur Lynx to double-overtime win over Hornets

Lincoln County boys basketball coach Mike Wood feels comfortable whenever his team is involved in a close game.

As long as Dantley Walker is on the court, it’s easy to see why.

Walker scored 43 points, including all five in the second overtime, to carry the Lynx to a 61-56 double-overtime win over Beatty on the opening day of the Lake Mead Holiday Classic on Thursday.

The senior guard made two layups in traffic and added a free throw in the second extra period to give Lincoln County the win.

“When you have a player like Dantley, whenever the game’s close, we’re usually going to win,” Wood said. “It has nothing to do with what I’m doing or what anyone else is doing — he’s just a closer. He’s a little assassin.”

Walker, who also supplied seven rebounds, four assists and seven steals, almost single-handedly rallied Lincoln County (2-0) to the win.

Beatty (1-2) led 54-49 in the final minute, but Walker hit two free throws before draining an open 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game at 54.

“He was unreal,” Wood said. “I know there will be a lot of double-teams and gimmick (defenses) this year, and if I was playing us, I’d do the same thing.”

One of the questions facing Lincoln County early this season is who will support Walker in the scoring column, with the Lynx trying to replace four starters from last year.

The answer Thursday was sophomore forward Chandler Katschke, who supplied 11 points and 10 rebounds.

“(Katschke) is as big as anybody on the team,” Wood said. “That’s kind of our one-two punch this year.”

Ivan Maldonado hit four 3-pointers on his way to 16 points to lead Beatty. Ivan Hernandez added 12 points and five rebounds for the Hornets, and teammate Ramiro Hernandez supplied 11 points and three assists.

In the nightcap, Walker scored 29 points to lead the Lynx to a 55-29 rout of Spring Mountain. Katschke added 13 points for Lincoln County.

Andrew Cavanaugh paced Spring Mountain with 10 points.

Lake Mead 41, Pahrump Valley 38 — L.J. Yamzon hit five 3-pointers and scored 20 points to help the Eagles edge the Trojans.

Jordan Tillman’s driving layup with less than three minutes left gave Lake Mead a 33-32 lead, and the Eagles held on for the win.

James Munger and Bret Kunzi each scored 10 points for Pahrump.

Pahrump Valley 48, Lutheran (Calif.) 4 — Kunzi scored 11 points and Dajhan Celius added 10 points to help the Trojans cruise to the win.

Nine players scored for Pahrump, which started the game on a 19-0 run.

Beatty 51, Spring Mountain 39 — Anthony Turner had 19 points and five rebounds to help the Hornets rally past the Eagles.

Ramiro Hernandez scored 11 points for Beatty, which overcame a 28-20 halftime deficit.

Miky Gaitan scored seven points as part of a 22-5 run that helped Beatty build a 42-33 lead in the second half.

Matthew Trapp scored 13 points and Devante Rash added 10 for Spring Mountain.

Lake Mead 57, Lutheran (Calif.) 8 — Yamzon sank seven 3-pointers en route to 22 points and four assists in leading the Eagles to the easy win.

Yamzon hit four 3-pointers in the first five minutes as Lake Mead built a 21-0 lead.

Caleb Pitman had 12 points and six rebounds for the Eagles, and teammate Wesley Brule supplied eight points and seven rebounds.

Pahranagat Valley 42, Calvary Chapel (Calif.) 25 — Cody Hosier led a balanced offense with 11 points to lift the Panthers to the win.

GIRLS

Lake Mead 45, The Meadows 20 — Taylor Badua-Kono scored 14 of her 20 points in the second half and swiped three steals to help the Eagles down the Mustangs.

Jordan Clarke added 21 points for Lake Mead.

Lake Mead 42, Lutheran (Calif.) 28 — Clarke scored 19 points and Badua-Kono supplied 11 to rally Lake Mead from a 22-18 halftime deficit.

Calvary Chapel 13, Basic JV 12 — Phallen Nelson scored five points to help the Lions edge the Wolves.

Calvary Chapel 14, Beatty 11 — At Calvary Chapel, Nelson had 10 points to lead the Lions over the Hornets.

Calvary Chapel 17, Indian Springs 13 — The Lions held off a late rally to defeat the Thunderbirds.