EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
Liberal used the outside shot from a big man to keep pace with Lakin early, but after a competitive first half, the Redskins couldn’t maintain the level of play and lost 77-46.
Liberal’s first three shots came from beyond the three point line with a pair of threes from Juan Diego and another from freshman forward Adrian Moreno/Gonzalez.
Lakin also landed a pair of threes in the first quarter and led the Redskins 15-9.
Lakin pushed the lead to 20-9 with a run to start the second quarter, but Gonzalez answered with back-to-back threes and another shot near the lane to spark a 12-0 Liberal run, and the Redskins took a 21-20 lead.
Lakin answered with a 6-0 run, and by halftime Liberal trailed 30-23.
But Lakin was able to maintain an advantage over the Redskins the rest of the way and extended the lead to 20 in the third quarter.
Lakin pushed out to a 30-point lead late in the fourth, and Liberal fell 77-46.
James Fieser led Liberal with 18 points. Gonzalez had 11.
“We came out ready with our game plan,” Liberal coach Brandt Rogers said. “Then the second half we got sloppy, didn’t rebound, had 19 or 20 turnovers, most in the second half. That killed us.”
Liberal travels to Hays Friday to face the Western Athletic Conference opponent Indians.
