Hickory Hornets heading for Hershey, defeat Lincoln Park in State semifinals

The Hickory Hornets are celebrating a trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania and the PIAA State Championship game after defeating Lincoln Park 68-61 in Monday's semifinal game. 

The Hornets, while the game was close throughout, only trailed one time in the game, when the score was 2-0 Lincoln Park. Hickory advances to the state title game for the second time in school history and for the first time since 1961, when the Hornets were state runner-ups.

Hickory led 17-8 after the first quarter and held a 29-21 point lead at intermission. Hornets' senior Peyton Mele tallied 38 total points, a career-high, and eclipsed the 1,500-point mark during the first half. Mele is the school's 3rd all-time leading scorer. 

The Hornets held a 46-35 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but struggled with turnovers in the final frame, with 10. The turnovers led to a Lincoln Park run as they cut Hickory's lead to 56-50 with 3:20 left in the fourth quarter. The lead was down to four points at 58-54 with just over two minutes remaining. 

Peyton Mele hit four late-game free throws to make it a 62-58 lead with 1:05 to play in the game. 

It turned into a free throw game for both teams late in the game, but with 34 seconds remaining, Mele hit two more from the line, increasing the lead to 64-59 for the Hornets. Shortly after, senior Connor Evans made nailed four free throws to make it a 68-61 with seven seconds left, sealing the deal for Hickory. 

POST GAME REACTION: CLICK HERE

Evans scored 15 points on the night, including seven in the fourth quarter. Joe Fazzone chipped in nine and Jackson Pryts added four. 

They advance to the GIANT Center in Hersey, Pennsylvania for the PIAA State Championship game against Allentown Central Catholic, Thursday, March 25 at 7:30 pm.