EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
After two near misses for Western Athletic Conference wins against Garden City and Dodge City, the Liberal Redskins found themselves in position for their first WAC win of the season, but struggles in the second half led to a 76-70 loss that dropped the Redskins to 1-14 and in danger of not qualifying for the Class 6A playoffs.
Juan Diego had a hot start with three three pointers in the first quarter to go along with a drive to the basket for two to score 11 points in the period.
James Fieser pushed into the lane early and made a basket and was also fouled three times. He made three of his six free throws, and Adrian Moreno drained a three.
The Panthers also found their way to the free throw line in the first quarter and made seven of 10 free throw attempts after the Redskins committed seven fouls in less than three minutes, and despite the high scoring, Liberal had a 21-20 lead.
Fouls continued to mount for both teams, and Liberal senior standout James Fieser found himself on the bench with two early fouls.
Liberal was five for 11 at the free throw line in the second quarter, and Great Bend was five for seven.
Without Fieser for most of the second quarter, the Redskins still had a 38-32 lead at half.
But the Panthers quickly erased the Redskin advantage in the third quarter and found their way to the free throw line for 10 shots in the third and made five of those.
Alan Olvera made a three in the third, but Liberal was outscored 18-10 in the period which gave the Panthers a 50-48 lead.
But the Redskins rallied early in the fourth before fouls continued to send the Panthers to the free throw line, and the Panthers also started to melt the clock before pushing to the basket for high percentage shots which continued to fall.
Great Bend made five of seven free throws in the fourth, and Eathan Hernandez kept the Redskins close with a pair of threes, but the Panthers built a 10-point lead late, and the Redskins only cut it to six in a 76-70 loss.
Liberal faces Lakin tonight.
