Though the Metropolis Excessive and Liberty basketball header was an thrilling event for all in attendance, it wasn’t an important facet of the night.
A “Psychological Well being Consciousness Evening” is introduced, and the Metropolis Excessive and Liberty women’ basketball groups present their name for change in a number of methods.
Metropolis Excessive’s gamers wore T-shirts studying “Tomorrow Wants You”. Liberty wore “OS14” jerseys in honor of beloved pupil Owen Skelly, who died by suicide final 12 months.
Earlier than the sport, gamers and coaches from each groups gathered of their half of the sector and held collectively for a second of silence for many who have been affected or misplaced their lives as a result of psychological well being struggles.
Liberty coach Jaime Brandt stated the chance to unfold that message was of the utmost significance.
“It is all the time nice whenever you’re enjoying for one thing larger than basketball,” Brandt stated. “Tonight we have been capable of honor Owen (Skelly) and what he delivered to our neighborhood and the notice that got here from it. Life is difficult and it is okay to not be okay. So having the ability to unfold that message utilizing our platform, which is highschool basketball, it was actually particular. “.
Metropolis Excessive coach Lynsey Barnard stated this was a chance to indicate the youngsters they cared.
“There’s a enormous stigma surrounding the psychological well being of athletes,” Barnard stated. “We have realized to be robust and to reply in a sure manner. It is arduous for anybody, particularly athletes, to be weak and say they need assistance. So it is essential that we have a look at these youngsters as college students first after which as basketball gamers second. You clearly wish to win.” basketball video games, however there is no such thing as a rivalry extra essential than our kids.”
Listed here are the highest factors earned from the Friday video games:
The Liberty Ladies use a courageous protection to win
Recognized for his offensive prowess, the Lightning needed to strive a distinct method in Friday’s defensive duel towards the Little Hawks. Liberty achieved a 39-25 victory within the women’ recreation.
Brandt stated her staff appreciates difficult video games as a result of they power all the roster to contribute.
“After we can win video games when Jasmine (Barney) has seven factors, it says quite a bit about our staff and the way deep we’re,” Brandt stated. “I inform the ladies day-after-day in apply that each evening generally is a totally different individual. As a staff, I feel we grow to be assured and discover ways to win and that is one thing our program has by no means carried out earlier than.”
Freshman Janissa Mosley led the staff with eight factors, a season-high. Mosley stated her teammates impressed her to go even additional.
“I really feel offensive, I have been capable of assault extra,” Mosley stated. “Most of my vitality got here from my teammates and their assist. My teammates have been doing one thing good and that might push me to do my half in assault and defence.”
Metropolis Excessive Ladies’ offense disappears within the second quarter
With the second quarter down 9-5, the sport was nonetheless within the arms of the Little Hawk women. However they could not drop their photographs.
Within the second interval, Metropolis Excessive received 11-4, with two of these factors coming from layups by sophomore Augie Palmer and the opposite factors from free throws by sophomore Amy McComas and freshman Tessa Driscoll.
Little Hawks coach Lynsey Barnard stated her religion within the staff stays unwavering.
“Nothing that occurs within the recreation adjustments my opinion of what we will do,” stated Barnard. “It is actually about what we will do all through the sport. After we can try this, we’ll steal a recreation towards one in every of these actually gifted groups.”
Dashun Fisher places the onslaught of the Sons of Liberty on his again
Dashun Fisher, one of many main scorers within the Mississippi Valley Convention, imposed his will towards a normally robust high-flying protection. He led all gamers with 34 factors in Liberty’s 67-56 boys’ win.
Fisher stated his mentality is to assist his staff by any means mandatory.
“Clearly, after I’m having a 30-plus-point recreation, it feels nice,” Fisher stated. “However even after I know I am not having one of the best recreation, I do know I can do extra than simply rating. I can facilitate the ball, I can defend, I can rebound, and I am going to do no matter it takes to assist my staff get a win.”
Lightning coach Ryan Kelly stated Fisher’s presence can be a game-changer.
“It makes me look actually good,” stated Kelly. “He is an awesome participant and I am blissful to educate him and proceed to educate him. He helps us quite a bit due to his attacking capacity and his athleticism. One of many issues I am actually blissful about him is that he is beginning to belief his teammates. So when groups begin to double his squad or begin to staff up with him, He is assured his teammates will open up. And that is one thing I hope makes us actually harmful on the street.”
The boys’ late fee from Metropolis Excessive proves to be too little, too late
Except a poor first-quarter offense (through which they solely collected 9 factors), each groups had a superb evening scoring by typical requirements.
What helped Liberty keep on prime for a lot of the evening was the truth that the Lightning stored attacking for the remaining three quarters. In the meantime, the Little Hawks had a number of offensive possessions all through the sport as they discovered themselves on the hunch.
Coach Brennan Sweizer stated the Little Hawks have been a resilient staff this season, however he cannot all the time depend on late rallies to avoid wasting them.
“One factor about my guys is that we’ll compete,” Swizer stated. “It is one thing I do know they’re going to do always, however it virtually turns into a prop for us as a result of we do not take the time to execute offensively or make good passing selections, which ends up in ups and downs.”