ANDERSON – Maybe no boys basketball participant represents the household nature of the Liberty Christian program higher than A'Marien Web page.
The 6-foot-1 junior transferred from Anderson this season and was requested to assist lead a workforce with three freshmen whereas adjusting to school basketball for the primary time.
It's the form of selfless service to others that’s generally requested of Leos, however the request by no means comes with out reciprocity.
“I’ve an important teaching workers and each single considered one of them has embraced AP like they've been right here for 3 or 4 years and it's been household ever since,” Liberty Christian coach Norman Anderson stated. “From the academics at Liberty, from the gamers to the coaches to the superintendent to the principal, we're a household right here and that's what it's all about. We handle one another.”
It took Web page some time to get used to his new environment. However he slowly started to emerge from his shell on and off the courtroom.
He turned an integral a part of the Lions' protection because the workforce cruised to its third straight championship final weekend and prepares to journey to the state's greatest highschool stage — New Fortress Fieldhouse — for Saturday's Class 1A regional in opposition to Pioneer Tutorial Athletic Convention rival Seton. Catholic.
“It took some time, however due to my coaches — they actually helped me alongside the way in which,” Web page stated. “There was lots they needed to study and that's what they're actually good at, in addition to making ready you mentally for issues. So I really feel like I used to be prepared when the time got here as a result of I had my coaches there to information me alongside the way in which.”
It's been a season of progress for Liberty Christian (16-9).
Senior Devon Kelley is the one returning starter from the final two sectional championship groups, and Coach Anderson deliberately challenged his younger workforce to a brutal common season schedule.
Among the many opponents on this yr's docket had been Class 4A foes Brownsburg, Arsenal Tech, Pendleton Heights, Lawrence Central and Noblesville.
The Lions additionally battled Class 3A Shortridge and Guerin Catholic in the course of the common season.
5 PAAC colleges received sectional championships this previous weekend — a single convention document within the class basketball period — including to the issue of the slate.
However probably the most spectacular stretches got here in the course of the Madison County match.
After beating Alexandria and Frankton within the first two rounds, the Lions battled exhausting earlier than falling 67-56 to Anderson within the championship recreation.
The loss left a void that continues to drive Liberty Christian into the postseason.
“The sense of loss is basically what bought us there,” Web page stated. “We don't need to know what it's wish to lose.” In order that's why we're out right here taking part in as exhausting as we do.”
It hasn't been a straightforward highway for the Lions, who trailed by six factors within the fourth quarter of Friday's semifinal win in opposition to Tri-Central and by 9 within the third quarter of Saturday's championship recreation in opposition to Cowan.
Every time, Liberty Christian dug deep and emerged with a crushing drive to win by double digits.
Web page stated that's the results of a mentality created throughout a daily season by which the Lions misplaced 4 occasions by 30 or extra factors.
“It took me some time to actually get that (mindset) into my head,” Web page stated. “Coach (Mike) Carey particularly — as a result of that's who I've been working with — actually helped me get on the market and actually say 'NATO' — whatever the final result. That's actually helped me this yr.”
That resilience may turn out to be useful on Saturday.
After going up in opposition to Cowan's 6-foot-10 Cole Duncan final week, Web page will sometimes match up with Seton Catholic's 6-foot-8 Mason Harvey — who’s averaging 21.6 factors and 12.6 rebounds whereas taking pictures 39 % from 3 -point unfold.
“They're a little bit bit thicker than him, however he's bought the athleticism to defend,” coach Anderson stated of Web page's post-game matchups. “And with (sophomore) Jordan Haralson coming in, it brings you the story of two completely different bigs that now we have. Jordan is a little bit thicker, much more strong, so he's in a position to give AP a break at occasions.”
Web page additionally receives distinctive hands-on coaching.
Junior faculty coach Malik Perry — a 6-4 former Ball State star initially recruited to Iowa by Steve Alford — routinely challenges Web page within the paint.
“It's an important alternative as a result of even once I'm guarding him, he's additionally serving to me and telling me what to do once I'm on the market on protection and offense,” Web page stated. “If I miss one thing, Coach Malik at all times corrects me and tells me the place to go.
Web page's confidence and luxury within the system rose together with Liberty Christian's fortunes.
The Lions are using a six-game successful streak by which they’ve averaged 59.8 factors and received by a mean of 12.8 factors.
“The ability has at all times been there,” Coach Anderson stated of Web page, however he may additionally converse for the workforce as a complete. “It's about getting that out of him and him believing in himself.” And because the season progressed, you see how he's doing higher. It's getting louder. AP is generally a quiet baby.
“He's loud, he's lively, and it's an actual blessing not solely on the sphere however off the sphere, simply to see him develop into the younger man he’s at the moment.”
