Sioux Falls Lincoln had balance scoring again Saturday night and used great free throw shooting to hang on to nip South Sioux City Cardinals 56-53.

The Patriots were 15 of17 at the free-throw line nailing nine of 10 in the final period. LHS scored a seven-point run to lead 49-41 in the fourth quarter. But the Cardinals crawled back to get within 54-53.

Lincoln's point guard Nermin Krdzalic made two free throws with :13 left in the game. The Cardinals faced stiff Lincoln defense and missed a three at the horn.

Krdzalic's night included 13 points, five rebounds and seven assists. His weekend numbers in two wins were 37 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists as the Patriots beat O'Gorman Friday at home.

"They pressured us the whole night, they have kids that can shoot, they have kids that get to the paint," said Patriot's coach Jeff Halseth. "But I thought we rebounded well again tonight and that helped us."

Lincoln in fact outrebounded South Sioux City 39-28.

Halseth said the Cardinals took his team out their offense, "it challenged our kids to make things up as they doubled the ball and I thought at times they played harder than we did."

Sophomore center Addison Park had 13 points and seven rebounds. "He's going to be a really good basketball player. He's done all the right things, he just needs to be more consistent," said Halseth.

Lincoln is now 3-0 on the season and Coronado, NV in the Mike Miller Classic.

South Sioux City, Nebraska Class B champs in 2010 and 2011 and runner-up last year,  fell to 2-3. They play Sioux Falls Washington at the Tyson Events Center Jan. 3.

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