When talking about the 2010 Hornets basketball team, let’s cut right to the chase… these guys are good! In a breakout season, the hornets have rattled off 22 straight wins to catapult them to a CIF San Diego Section championship and a staggering record of 27-2 – with their only two losses coming from teams ranked number 13 and number 20 in the state.

The question is: How good are they? In the Southern California regional semi-final game vs. Pasadena on Saturday, March 13th, the Hornets answered that question by doing something to their opponent few have seen before in a state tournament game. In the fourth quarter, Lincoln increased their commanding lead to 40 points which invoked a mercy rule. The clock would only stop during timeouts for the remainder of the game. In the biggest game the new gym had ever seen, with the highest stakes, the Hornets dismantled the Bulldogs, winning every aspect of the game.

Lincoln shot 67% from the field, which set a new season high, following 2 poor shooting nights vs. Hoover and Summit. But their offense was merely the sideshow. Saturday night, the Lincoln defense was the main attraction, and it was relentless. The commitment to defense by the Hornets showed early and often, as they ended first quarter up 28-8.

This season has been historic at The Hive. The Hornets have a chance to do something that has only been done once in the history of Lincoln basketball: win a state championship. Lincoln continues its quest for glory vs. Compton Saturday. If they beat Compton, they will advance to the state finals the following Friday in Bakersfield.

As for the question; how good are they? Only time will tell, but they are playing their best basketball of the season now, and they have the opportunity and the talent to be the best Lincoln team ever.

Lincolng Hornets vs. Compton, Saturday, March 20th at USC’s Galen Center. Tip off is set for 4pm.

By Mark McCann, March 16, 2010