EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
Upsets happen in postseason play, including No. 1 Great Bend losing to No. 16 Goddard Eisenhower in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs. But expecting the Redskins to pull off an upset over No. 2 Wichita Heights proved to be too big of a hill to climb, and the Redskins fell 72-25.
Liberal struggled throughout the first season under Brandt Rogers who is trying to build a winning culture for Liberal High School basketball.
That task proved to be a tough hill to climb after several previous losing seasons and seeing some players unwilling to stick with the program for the entire season.
But Rogers continued to play with the players he had, including several underclassmen who will be returning, and standout James Fieser, who will be back for his senior season next year.
Injuries also caused some key players to miss playing time, including Xavier Porras.
But Rogers saw character development in those who remained for the whole season.
“I’m really proud of how the boys who stuck with it handled themselves all season long,” Rogers said. “They stuck it through to the end, and I’m proud of the people they are.”
But the development of the Redskins was not at the same place as Heights.
“The effort was there, but it was too big of a battle for us, especially where we are at right now,” Rogers said. “Wichita Heights is a well-oiled machine, and they will make a run in the postseason.”
Rogers will expect Fieser to guide the Redskins as the on-court general next season.
“Seeing James as the leader he was able to be as a junior sets this team up for success in the future,” Rogers said. “That will be the testament of the team as to how well James can lead those guys.”
Prep will now begin on next season.
“The summer will have to be hands on,” he said. “We worked on skill development last year, but we need to play games this summer.”
