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Slow start leads to Liberty’s exit
By Brandon Judeh
Howland
Before the Liberty High boys basketball team’s sectional semifinal game against Newton Falls, the Leopards coaching staff told their players: “It’s now or never.”
The Leopards didn’t take those words to heart — they came out flat and lost to the Tigers, 57-48, in Monday’s opener at the Howland High Division III tournament.
A lack of intensity plagued the Leopards (9-13) as Newton Falls (13-10) jumped out to a 9-2 lead.
“This is tournament basketball and we talked about getting off to a good start and we did exactly the opposite,” Liberty head coach Dan Bubon said.
“You can’t dig yourself into a hole with a good team like Newton Falls. Before the game we talked about whoever got the lead in this game was going to force the other team to do things that they don’t want to do and that is what they did to us.”
Newton Falls showed why they are quietly one of the most structured and fundamentally sound basketball teams in the area, with good ball movement, smart shots and a trapping defense.
“Lately we have been trying to focus more on rebounding and defensive intensity and we feel that if we keep those two things up that we can be in every game of this tournament,” Newton Falls junior Ozzie Hawkins said.
Hawkins got things flowing for the Tigers as his passing and shooting skills got Newton Falls out to the early lead. He finished with 12 points, four assists and five rebounds.
Hawkins found fellow junior Derek Walton early and often, as Walton knocked down one big 3-point basket after another.
“It was great to get the opportunity to put my team ahead, but I couldn’t have done it without Ozzie driving to the hoop and kicking it out to me,” Walton said.
Walton finished with three 3-pointers and 12 points.
Liberty battled back in the second quarter and cut the Tigers lead to one at halftime thanks to Cameron Clark nailing a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
But once again, Liberty came out flat after leaving the locker room. Newton Falls held the Leopards to six third-quarter points.
Leading the way for the Tigers was Dale Kernen with 20 points and nine rebounds.
“Jarrod Crowder and Logan Harrah have also stepped up big for us,” Kernen said.
Leading the way for Liberty were Asim Pleas Jr. with 14 points, John Helms Jr. with 11 and Clark with 10.
Earlier in the season, the Tigers’ starting five decided to get Mohawks for their game against LaBrae. Now that they are moving on to play Girard, Kernen says that he and his teammates have decided to keep them in hopes of one thing.
“We are keeping these and hoping to get another shot at LaBrae,” Kernen said. “We want a chance at redemption.”