Game Audio Below:
The Liberty Boys Basketball team traveled to Salem Missouri along with the Liberty Lady Eagles to face the Tigers. Liberty fell woefully short in the game as they were outscored by nearly forty points, 75-59
1st Quarter: First three of the night by Parker Tune. The Eagles will keep the ball for at least a minute or two before the ball is taken by the Tigers and put up for two by Gavin Sapaugh who scores twice with two offensive rebounds. Salem is able to take a two point lead as Luke Pryor is able to tap the ball in for two, nearly missing but two more. About a five point run now as Gavin Sapaugh puts in another baseline jumper. Stolen and put up for two and a foul by Gavin Reese. Two more puts Salem up by twelve now with another jumper by Sapaugh as the has now turned into at least a 7 point run. Score now 13-8, as Reese puts in another floater and Eagles now making some substitutions after a foul call and Luke Pryor shoots two for the Tigers. Salem runs with it on the rebound and Alex Tune gets two free throws. Rebound Parker Tune and a good putback as it almost falls out. Salem makes their third turnover as Liberty is encouraged to take the ball the basket and play some tougher defense. Three point play right before the buzzer by Sapaugh makes the Score at the end 19-12.
2nd Half: Salem continues to Attack as Sapaugh scores on another bucket right out of the gate. On the next two Liberty possessions Gavin Reese with two more, followed by a three by Alex Tune. Salem spreads out to a man to man defense. Another three pointer, this time by Lincolin Thomas for the Tigers as they now lead by eleven, 30-19. Eagles are turned up the pressure a little bit as another two by Tune and are now beginning to possibly make sense of this strong Salem offense. Liberty has made at least three more turnovers since the start of the quarter in addition to their first three in the first eight minutes of play. Mays tries for another three but it is very short, not even close to making it. Another reverse Sapaugh as he keeps getting very close to the rim and dunking it in. A second three by Lincolin Thomas and ball will go out and passed from Reese to Mays and Reese will be called for a charge. Free throw line jumper good by Pryor and kept, another one by Sapaugh who Eagles seem to be struggling most with. Sapaugh has seventeen points by the end of first half.
HALFTIME- Liberty Eagles: 24/ Salem Tigers: 44
3rd Quarter: A spin move and good shot by Draydon Wells to start the Second Half. Gavin Reese is able to block Gavin Sapaugh’s next look at two as Eagles are spreading their defense back out. Rebound and putback by Reese as Eagles are going on a 5-0 run. Tigers get it back as Sapaugh gets his own rebound and back in. Taken back by Eagles for two more by Reese. Liberty are starting to match their rebounds a bit more closely. Tigers have it now and another three by Lincolin Thomas. Ball continues to be kept in the backcourt by the Eagles as Reese makes two more as they now trail by eleven, 38-49. As they come back from the Salem timeout, Eagles begin to go back to a cold state as Alex keeps trying for a three. But taken back and Lincolin Thomas with a three, but falls short and is called for a foul. Brayden Mays on the next posession, tries for a two but rolls his ankle and the shot falls short. Tigers get it back and another two points as Sapugh passes to Pryor. Make it four as Brayden Gaspch rebounds it and puts it in for two more. Salem Tigers now have a twenty-one point lead with 16.9 seconds to go. A foul call on the Eagles and Pryor shoots two more. Add two more to this by Sapaugh and Salem now leads by twenty-three, 60-43 at the end of three.
4th Quarter: Sapaugh with another dunk to start the final eight minutes. A blocking foul sends Alex Tune to shoot two, he makes 1-2. Eagles are trying to apply as much pressure as they can but still, turnovers have just about done them in. Alex Tune fouls out of the game with twelve points as he picks up a blocking foul off of two free throws by Pryor as the Tigers now lead by at least twenty-five. Two more fouls on the Eagles and another two by Sapaugh.
*Another downfall of the Eagles tonight: Salem is playing a massive full court press which normally, Liberty has appeared to attack. Tonight they are barely matching the physicality of Salem. Salem only with Seven Turnovers as there is 5:00 to go in the ballgame.
Another rebound and reverse layup by Sapaugh. Salem so far has 20 defensive rebounds and 18 defensive rebounds. Sapaugh goes in again as Liberty fails to shut him down. An offensive foul on the Tigers sends Parker Tune to the line, the one free throw Tune makes brings the trail down to thirty. Freshman, Roger Haeffner is able to make a three pointer.
But overall, Gavin Sapaugh leads all scorers for Salem and defeats the Eagles by a final score of 75-59.
Liberty had:
19 turnovers
Outrebounded 29:18
4-21 from the free throw line
*Weather Permitting: Eagles will face the Thayer Bobcats for Senior night this coming Friday night for senior night. Catch the Broadcast on The Fox 96.9.
