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Liberty wins see-saw game vs. Girard
By Jim Flick
LIBERTY
In a game between traditional rivals that swung back and forth, the Liberty High boys’ basketball team defeated Girard High 67-55 on Friday.
“Records don’t matter,” said Girard coach Nolan Cubellis. “Our kids were up for this game.”
Liberty coach Marlin McGaughy agreed. “I told my players don’t overlook this team.”
Jaylen Mann led a balanced attack for Liberty (7-7, 1-2 All-American White), scoring 13 points. Craig Washington contributed 12 points for the Leopards, while Jamal Daniel added 10 points and Charles Perdue and Luka Markulin each had nine points.
The game’s leading scorer was Girard’s A.J. Weibelwith 18 points, including three 3-pointers. Mat Pagano tallied 12 points for the Indians (3-10, 1-3 All-American Blue).
Early on Liberty dominated, scoring nine unanswered points to start the game. The Leopards’ lead reached 15-2 after Craig Washington sank a basket and added a free throw.
But the Indians scored five straight, including a 3-pointer by Pagano, to cut the lead to 15-7 as the first quarter ended.
The two teams played almost dead even in the second quarter, Liberty outscoring Girard 11-10, to take a 26-17 lead into the locker room at halftime.
But Girard exploded in the third quarter, pulling even and briefly taking the lead. The Indians outscored the Leopards 24-20 in the third quarter. Girard led 38-34 after Michael Bornemiss sank a pair of free throws with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
But Liberty quickly struck back, retaking the lead on a field goal by Mann. As the buzzer sounded, ending the third quarter, Mann connected on a 3-pointer, giving Liberty a 46-41 lead.
Liberty took control of the game in the fourth quarter, scoring eight unanswered points to start the period. Daniel sank a 3-pointer for Liberty to start the quarter, Mann scored a three-point play, and Perdue sank a long jumper, giving Liberty a 54-43 lead.
Liberty outscored Girard 21-14 in the final quarter.
“We knew they’d make adjustments at halftime,” said McGaughy. “But I think our depth wore them down.”
Referring to his team’s balanced scoring and unselfish defensive play, McGaughy added, “We’ve been preaching all season they should play team ball.”
Cubellis said that after halftime, his players took advantage of some openings the Indians had ignored in the first half. “They were attacking more and knocked down some big shots.”
Because of the rivalry between the two schools, the Girard coach added, “It didn’t surprise me that we worked so hard to get back into the game.”
But after Girard took the lead in the third quarter, Cubellis said, Liberty players “hit some shots that swung the momentum back to them.”