Liberty wins over Lourdes, secures location in District Finals | Basketball

In a recreation wherever baskets did not occur effortlessly for either aspect, the Liberty boys were being capable to use opportunistic plays down the stretch to bury their opponent on the way to their 1st excursion to the District Championship recreation in 32 many years.

“Being capable to participate in these final two many years and having all those video games has aided us,” Colton Litzelman mentioned. “We experienced to drive ourselves to play defense a tiny bit superior, and it gave us a tiny bit additional self-confidence and we arrived out with the acquire.”

Throughout the initial quarter, both teams had been stalwart on the defensive side of the courtroom, and senior position guard Noah Spencer was ice chilly from the industry, missing on his very first number of attempts and not coming absent with any points in the to start with body.

The protection was in a position to hold the match close, as the Mounties only trailed 9-8 immediately after the initial quarter.

While the second-quarter score was a stalemate with both equally groups scoring 12 in the body, it was about the halfway element of the frame wherever Spencer started to see pictures fall and the business office for Liberty started out to discover a groove.

“I just advised him he’s got to go by and get to the basket someway,” Mentor Litzelman claimed. “He’s acquired to allow the move of the game occur to him, I consider he was pressured and I imagine that getting so close to 1,000 (details) was a demanding problem.”

Spencer arrived into the contest only needing 20 far more details to sign up for the 1,000-level club, but once he set that notion into the back of his head, his pictures started to tumble.

His two late buckets in addition a steal and layup from Colton Litzelman aided them grab a guide with only 30 seconds still left in the 50 percent, but a putback with time ticking down from Lourdes’ Maxwell Reiprish gave the Red Raiders a 21-20 lead at the 50 percent.

With the recreation in the balance in a scenario all too acquainted to the Mounties, they responded fantastically with Spencer having charge.

Two 3-ideas from the place guard and eight full factors in the frame helped the Liberty workforce choose manage of the recreation heading into the final quarter with a 31-29 guide.

The protection took in excess of down the stretch and even though Lourdes found them selves sneaking again into the sport periodically, huge plays down the extend on protection for Colton Litzelman, a late a few-pointer from Koleton Roupp, and 6 fourth-quarter details from Spencer proved to be the determining issue as the Mounties held Lourdes to just 7 fourth-quarter factors to choose the victory on their household flooring.

Spencer concluded the recreation with 18 factors in the video games (14 in the next 50 %) to go along with 10 rebounds, 3 helps, and two steals.

As soon as the senior dialed in, he aided drive the offense to a victory in a game in which details have been difficult to come by. He now sits just two factors absent from the coveted 1,000-position club.

“I was not way too nervous about it but of class you want to get it,” Spencer said. “I feel I did pressure a minor as well a lot this video game, but figuring out that now I am only two details away, I’m not far too anxious about it now. Now we can just go enjoy to get.”

Colton Litzleman was the chief on defense, and the senior carries on to be a stopper for the Mounties as they carry on their operate to consider and seize a title.

He racked up nine factors, four rebounds, a match-substantial 4 steals which include the largest enjoy of the evening the place he arrived up with a steal even though his group only led by 4, acquired fouled on the other conclude, and knocked down two totally free throws to assistance ice the game.

“I was just being a heads-up guy,” Litzelman explained. “Sometimes I assistance a bit too a lot on protection, but that time I did it just ideal. I noticed their position guard bringing it down, turned my head, and when I turned back again I stole the ball and I just went for it and took it from there and I was like, ‘I’m heading to just take us to a District Title match.’”

Senior centre Brandon Thompson turned in his usual stable activity as he corralled 10 rebounds to go along with his 8 points, Roupp experienced three details, Kevin Alexander netted 4 factors and Derek Litzelman included two factors as the Mounties picked up the get.

The Lourdes staff was led by Chris Feudale who notched 10 points, Hunter Reed who scored seven, and Joey Nguyen who extra 6 in the effort and hard work.

With the acquire, the Liberty team now faces their biggest problem of the 2021 season, as they travel to not only their largest activity as a unit but also against the toughest matchup they have observed all period in the St. John Neumann Golden Knights (16-3) who have a lineup of really talented players and a prolonged record of achievements.

The Knights are coming off a 74-53 fight in opposition to Sullivan County (9-8) in their playoff matchup to seize a place in the District Finals.

With senior Colton Litzelman expected to choose on a single of the two Hill brothers (David Hill -23 ppg Davion Hill 21.3 ppg), he will flip to some of his matchups before this year as a wonderful learning experience with the complicated process that is ahead.

“I think I just have to have to get ready the similar way as I did for (Ty) Barret,” Colton Litzelman reported. “I’m not stating the Hill brothers aren’t stunning but I nonetheless imagine Ty is far better.”

The North Penn-Liberty Mounties will travel to Williamsport on Thursday, March 12 to just take on the St. John Neumann Golden Knights at 8 p.m. for a shot at the title.

“I just think we have to play as a group,” Coach Litzelman mentioned. “I imagine if we can place five fellas on the court docket that can participate in as a crew, we have a shot.”