By DOUG DONNELLY

OTTAWA LAKE – Whiteford coach Nick Abalos wanted the ball in Lincoln Joerin’s hands.

Good thing.

Joerin drove to the basket and hit a contested layup with three seconds left Thursday as Whiteford knocked off Lenawee Chrisitan, 67-65.

“He’s our best ballhandler,” Abalos said. “We wanted him to have the ball in that situation. He could drive and shoot or dish it off. We wanted him to make a play.”

The Bobcats trailed by as many as 18 points against the Cougars in the first half but chipped at the lead and cut it to 12 by halftime. It was 56-51 going into the fourth quarter. Whiteford tied the game at 61-61 when Kolby Masserant hit an inside jumper and took a 63-61 lead on another bucket by Masserant.

LCS went back in front, 64-63, but Evan Parker hit a bucket to make it 65-64 with 51 seconds left. LCS guard Brandon Summer tied it 65-65 with 32 seconds left when the Bobcats held for a last shot.

Parker led Whiteford with 20 points. Joerin finished with 12 and Masserant 10.

Whiteford is 4-1 and 2-0 in the Tri-County Conference.

LCS 25 15 16 9 – 65

WHITEFORD 9 21 23 16 – 67

LCS: Miller 0 2-4 2, Towler 1 0-0 2 Summer 6(3) 1-2 16, Scrupsky 2(2) 0-0 6, Kaulin 8(7) 1-2 24, J. Salenbien 6 1-1 13, T. Salenbien 1 0-0 2. Totals 24(12) 5-9 65.

WHITEFORD: L. Joerin 5(1) 1-2 12, Hill 3 1-3 7, Parker 8(2) 2-3 20, DeBarr 2 2-2 6, Masserant 4 2-2 10, R. Joerin 1 1-2 3, Stevens 0 3-4 3, Ruddy 2 0-0 4, Waterford 0 2-2 2. Totals 25(3) 14-20 67.