Though the Metropolis Excessive and Liberty basketball header was an thrilling event for all in attendance, it wasn’t crucial facet of the night.
A “Psychological Well being Consciousness Night time” is introduced, and the Metropolis Excessive and Liberty ladies’ 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 scholar 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 sphere and held collectively for a second of silence for many who have been affected or misplaced their lives attributable to psychological well being struggles.
Liberty coach Jaime Brandt mentioned the chance to unfold that message was of the utmost significance.
“It is all the time nice if you’re taking part in for one thing larger than basketball,” Brandt mentioned. “Tonight we had been capable of honor Owen (Skelly) and what he delivered to our neighborhood and the notice that got here from it. Life is tough and it is okay to not be okay. So with the ability to unfold that message utilizing our platform, which is highschool basketball, it was actually particular. “.
Metropolis Excessive coach Lynsey Barnard mentioned this was a chance to indicate the children they cared.
“There’s a enormous stigma surrounding the psychological well being of athletes,” Barnard mentioned. “We have discovered to be robust and to reply in a sure approach. It is exhausting for anybody, particularly athletes, to be susceptible and say they need assistance. So it is essential that we take a look at these children as college students first after which as basketball gamers second. You clearly wish to win.” basketball video games, however there isn’t any rivalry extra essential than our kids.”
Listed below 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 attempt a unique strategy in Friday’s defensive duel in opposition to the Little Hawks. Liberty achieved a 39-25 victory within the ladies’ sport.
Brandt mentioned her crew appreciates difficult video games as a result of they power the whole roster to contribute.
“After we can win video games when Jasmine (Barney) has seven factors, it says rather a lot about our crew and the way deep we’re,” Brandt mentioned. “I inform the ladies day-after-day in observe that each night time is usually a completely different individual. As a crew, I believe we turn into assured and learn to win and that is one thing our program has by no means accomplished earlier than.”
Freshman Janissa Mosley led the crew with eight factors, a season-high. Mosley mentioned her teammates impressed her to go even additional.
“I really feel offensive, I have been capable of assault extra,” Mosley mentioned. “Most of my vitality got here from my teammates and their help. My teammates had 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 fingers of the Little Hawk ladies. 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 mentioned her religion within the crew stays unwavering.
“Nothing that occurs within the sport modifications my opinion of what we are able to do,” mentioned Barnard. “It is actually about what we are able to do all through the sport. After we can try this, we will steal a sport in opposition to considered one 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 in opposition to a normally robust high-flying protection. He led all gamers with 34 factors in Liberty’s 67-56 boys’ win.
Fisher mentioned his mentality is to assist his crew by any means vital.
“Clearly, after I’m having a 30-plus-point sport, it feels nice,” Fisher mentioned. “However even after I know I am not having the most effective sport, 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 crew get a win.”
Lightning coach Ryan Kelly mentioned Fisher’s presence could be a game-changer.
“It makes me look actually good,” mentioned Kelly. “He is a terrific participant and I am blissful to educate him and proceed to educate him. He helps us rather a lot due to his attacking skill 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 crew up with him, He is assured his teammates will open up. And that is one thing I hope makes us actually harmful on the highway.”
The boys’ late fee from Metropolis Excessive proves to be too little, too late
Except a poor first-quarter offense (during which they solely collected 9 factors), each groups had a great night time scoring by typical requirements.
What helped Liberty keep on prime for many of the night time was the truth that the Lightning saved 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 mentioned the Little Hawks have been a resilient crew this season, however he cannot all the time rely on late rallies to save lots of them.
“One factor about my guys is that we will compete,” Swizer mentioned. “It is one thing I do know they’re going to do always, nevertheless 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.”