Beavers fall to Liberal

Garden City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–It seems like the last few times Scott City’s boys start off slow in The Garden at Garden City High School. Once down 18 in the first half, the Beavers made a push in the fourth quarter, and fell 65-53 to the Liberal Redskins to wrap up play at the Clarion Inn Roundball Classic.

Scott City never led in the game, and got to within 6-4 midway through the first quarter. After that, the Redskins took advantage of many second chance opportunities and turnovers to build a 17-4 lead early in the second quarter. Their run would end up being a 19-2 run and led 25-7 with 5:16 left before halftime. The Beavers closed the first half out on an 8-0 run to pull to within 32-22 at the break.

Liberal would outscore the Beavers 17-13 in the third frame, and never let Scott City get under 10 points in the period. The Beavers would catch a run, going on a 10-2 run to get to within 51-45 with 5:18 left. However, the Redskins would respond with a 12-5 run over the next four minutes to build a 63-51 lead with 48 seconds left. Both teams traded baskets in the end and Liberal picked up at 65-53 win.

Leading the way for the Redskins was Chris Robledo with 11 points and Izzy Rotolo and Shay Kerr each had 10 points. Scott City was led by Gus Hawkins with 15 points, Ronnie Weathers added 12 and Lawson Bailey scored 10 points.

Liberal has won three straight in the series since 2018, and lead the series since 1985 10-8.

Liberal    15 17 17 16 65
Scott City 4 18 13 18 53

Liberal (2-2): Tran 2 2-2 8: Kerr 4 2-4 10; Rotolo 4 2-2 10: Jenkins 0 1-2 1; Amador 0 0-0 0; Gilmore 1 1-4 3; M. Huskey 4 1-2 9; H. Huskey 2 0-2 4; Robledo 4 1-1 11; Avalos 2 0-0 4; Team: 24 10-19 65
Scott City (1-3): Metzger 3 3-4 9; Rodriguez 0 0-0 0; Thon 1 0-0 3; Hawkins 5 5-5 15; Bailey 4 2-3 10; Weathers 4 3-5 12; Tarango 2 0-1 4; Gooden 0 0-0 0; Team: 19 13-18 53

Three-Pointers: Liberal 4 (Tran 2, Robledo 2), Scott City 2 (Thon 1, Weathers 1); Turnovers: Liberal 17, Scott City 20; Rebounds: Liberal 32, Scott City 20; Fouls: Liberal 21, Scott City 15; Fouled Out: Liberal (H. Huskey).

Coach Brian Gentry Postgame