MICHIGAN CITY — One after the other, Liberty Christian gamers left the locker room — many with contemporary tears nonetheless seen on their faces — to the admiration and appreciation of their household, buddies and followers. A hug adopted and a reminder to maintain their chins up, a stern request after the Lions noticed their season come to a heartbreaking finish in a 56-53 loss to Fort Wayne Canterbury within the Class 1A North semistate championship sport.
The disappointment felt by coach Norman Anderson, who knew all too properly, was no comfort, however after a clutch shot by the Cavaliers and an unlucky turnover simply seconds later, his Lions may very well be netting for the third straight weekend.
However that honor went to the Cavaliers (18-9) after their first semi-state championship, and Canterbury will look ahead to the 1A state championship sport in two weeks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Liberty Christian (18-10) can solely look again at what might need been.
“Whether or not you're up 20 or down 20, you play till the buzzer,” Anderson mentioned. “You're going to overlook some photographs, you're going to make some photographs and also you're going to overlook some assignments, however that doesn't outline who we’re. You bounce again. They did a shot on the finish. They fired and that was it.”
Earlier than they may lament how the sport ended, the Lions needed to stave off an early exit as Canterbury stormed right into a double-digit lead within the first half. It was a considerably acquainted place, because the Liberty had discovered themselves with broad margins in every of their earlier 4 postseason appearances.
This was the biggest deficit they confronted at 22-10 after 6-foot-8 senior Tucker Day transformed a three-point play for the Cavaliers. He completed the day with 18 factors, six rebounds and three blocks after sitting out the morning semifinal as a consequence of two technical fouls through the sectional.
As they’ve achieved earlier than, the Lions chipped away with sophomore Jordan Haralson delivering the primary shot with a jumper on the wing. Freshman Tywaine Fuller made a three-pointer of his personal earlier than A'Marien Web page made a free throw and the Lions minimize the deficit to 23-18 on the break.
The Cavaliers held the Lions at arm's size for a lot of the third quarter, although they could have put the Liberty away early if not for the efforts of senior Devon Kelley.
Kelley scored the Lions' first 10 factors of the second half, together with a layup to maintain the Liberty inside 34-28. His one-handed effort stored the Lions alive till his teammates got here to assist.
“I gave it my all at present they usually gave it their all. That's all I can do or ask for,” Kelley mentioned. “We've been engaged on all of it week. We labored on the scripts till the summer season.”
That assist got here within the type of an 11-0 Liberty run. Kendrick Martin scored earlier than TJ English — who led LC within the morning semifinal with 14 factors — hit his first subject objective of the ultimate with 2:38 left. Martin adopted with a steal and basket earlier than English gave the Lions their first lead with a three-point play at 37-35.
Fuller capped the run with a basket of his personal for a 39-35 lead, and the Lions settled for a 41-39 lead heading into the ultimate interval.
Fuller opened the fourth with a 3-pointer for a 44-39 lead, the Lions' greatest of the night time.
The remainder of the sport was a back-and-forth situation, with the scores tied at 44-44 and 46-46 and a complete of seven lead modifications, together with 5 within the closing 2:25, the primary approaching a 3-pointer by Canterbury. senior Devon Lewis leads 49-48.
Web page then rebounded a missed English free throw and located the freshman for a basket and a 50-49 lead earlier than John Father or mother drove in a subject objective and made a free throw for a 52-50 Cavaliers lead.
That free throw resulted in Kelley's fifth foul, sending the senior to the bench after scoring a team-leading 13 factors.
“DK is the guts of this workforce and brings that edge and angle,” Anderson mentioned. “There have been instances after we have been down by 10 and DK wished us that. It was simply the need to win and he wished it so badly. My coronary heart hurts for him as a result of I do know he wished it so badly. However in the long run, (he) made it to a spot the place a number of excessive schoolers have by no means been. “You're a champion,” I informed him.
Haralson stepped in to switch Kelley and drilled a 3-pointer from the nook with 36.4 seconds left to place the Lions on prime 53-52.
However Father or mother answered to place the Cavaliers up 55-53 and ship the Lions roaring down the courtroom searching for a tie or a lead.
However Haralson intercepted the cross as his foot touched the touchline and turned the ball again to Canterbury.
The Lions have been compelled to foul, placing Lewis on the road with 7.8 seconds left and an opportunity to seal it for Canterbury. He made the primary however missed the second to present Liberty hope when Web page grabbed the rebound.
Fuller's 3-point try fell off the entrance of the rim into the fingers of English, whose desperation heave missed the mark, sending the Cavaliers into hysterics and leaving the Lions upset.
Denied their first semistate championship since their 2016 state championship workforce, the Lions will now start working to bounce again and advance. With Fuller, English, Martin, Haralson and Web page among the many returning gamers, the Lions really feel the long run is shiny.
However this younger group of lions realized the work it might take to finish the mission.
“You haven't heard the final of the Liberty Christian Lions,” Anderson mentioned. “I hate it for my seniors and my coronary heart hurts for these guys, however I informed my younger guys it's again to work. They’ve spring and summer season to get again to work. Now they know what it's like, they've tasted it. I look ahead to subsequent yr, however proper now we will likely be celebrating our seniors. They deserve it.”
The opposite senior is Jerramie Johnson, who didn't rating however had two rebounds and an help Saturday night time.
Fuller and English every scored 10 factors to assist Kelley's 13, whereas Martin scored eight and Web page added seven factors, 5 rebounds and two blocks.
Lewis scored 14 factors whereas Father or mother added 10 to assist Day.
