EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
Liberal scored eight points in a little over five minutes to start the game against emporia Friday, but they only scored 10 points in the final 27 minutes in a 71-18 blowout loss.
Liberal jumped out to an early 4-0 lead with baskets from Xavier Tafoya and Landon Martinez.
But Emporia used the long ball to score nine of their first 13 points, and by the end of the first half Emporia had a 15-10 lead.
Liberal’s shooting woes began in the second quarter with several shots coming from mid range and missing the mark.
Emporia turned the misses into runouts and layups on the other end, after Liberal managed a Martinez basket and an Abel Aguirre free throw, Emporia added 11 more points to its advantage to double up the Redskins 26-13.
Emporia continued to connect on shots including the fast break and went on an 8-0 run that including two three pointers to take a 34-13 lead.
Juan Diego stopped the run with a three, but the Spartans scored the last six points of the half to take a 40-16 lead at the break.
Liberal did not make a shot from the field the entire second half.
The Redskins managed a free throw in the third quarter and a free throw in the second, and while the Emporia defense limited Liberal to only two points in the second half, the Spartans scored 31 more points. Emporia dominated the third quarter 24-1, and with a running clock in the fourth Emporia still outpaced the Redskins 7-1.
Liberal played without James Fieser, who was unable to play due to a medical condition, but is expected to return later this season.
“We have to play better on the defensive end if we want to beat anyone on the rest of our schedule,” Liberal coach Brandt Rogers said. “We have to do a better job of getting the ball inside the three point line.”
Liberal (1-1) will open WAC play by hosting Hays (1-0) tonight.
