Sweet 16 boys basketball countdown: No. 11 Lincolnton

No. 11 Lincolnton Wolves

Head Coach: Bob Cowie (18th year as Lincolnton head coach)

2014-15 Notes: Finished 18-7 overall, 8-6 in the Southern District 7 (SD7) to finish 4th in league play; Lost in the 3rd round of the 2A state playoffs to Smoky Mountain, 68-56.

Returning Starters: Alex Rhyne (6-3, F, Sr.); Robbie Cowie (6-5, F, So.); Cordell Littlejohn (6-4, G, So.)

Key Newcomers: Raekwon Long (7-1, C, Sr.)

Why Them?: The Wolves return a strong core in all-conference forwards Robbie Cowie (12.2 ppg), Alex Rhyne and guard Cordell Littlejohn to team with newcomer, 7-foot-1, 280-pound center Raekwon Long, which will give them a formidable lineup. Long is a former Garinger High star. Lincolnton will look to challenge arch-rival, East Lincoln, for SD7 supremacy, and go even further than their third round playoff run from a year ago.

JAY EDWARDS

This story was originally published November 4, 2015 at 12:12 PM with the headline "Sweet 16 boys basketball countdown: No. 11 Lincolnton."