Liberty excited to meet Fauquier for fifth time this basketball season

In the aftermath of Wednesday’s relatively easy 54-38 win over Brentsville in the Evergreen District boys basketball tournament semifinals, two topics were at the tip of every Liberty team member's tongue.

The first was the prospect of yet another intense confrontation with Fauquier on Friday in Bealeton (7 p.m.), and the second was the cocky breakaway dunk by backup forward C.J. Lindsey that brought down the house, and excited Lindsey’s teammates and coach.

Lindsey's highlight happened in the final two minutes of a game Liberty (15-5) had well in hand. Lindsey was the recipient of a pass near midcourt, looked up and saw nothing but clear sailing. He roared in and threw down his dunk, concluding his throwdown with a facial grimace as the crowd chanted his name.

"I decided to go for it when I saw an open lane," Lindsey said.

Asked about his chances of executing it, Lindsey smiled.

"About 50-50. I don't dunk very often," he said, although he has done it impressively and with frequency in drill situations in practice.

His teammates later gushed about the 6-foot-2 junior's leaping ability.

“It was great. I was speechless,” said Xavier Colbert.

“He can jump out of the gym,” said Aaron Patterson.

Coach Pat Frazer loved it, too.

“When he started slowing down at the 3-point line I knew he was going to try and throw it down,” Frazer said. “I’m happy for C.J.”

Frazer is also happy with this team for winning its 10th straight game and turning a potentially troublesome district semifinal into a comfortable win. Brentsville employs an active 1-3-1 zone defense, but Liberty knew exactly how to attack it. They went at gaps and created numerous easy shots from close range and deep.

However, with neither team shooting well it took the district champions a while to establish a safe lead against the No. 4-seeded Tigers, who played the Eagles tough in their last meeting.

Liberty led 12-11 after the first quarter and 27-20 at halftime. The hosts opened things up in the third quarter thanks to Colbert — the recently-named Evergreen District Player of the Year — who scored 10 of his 14 points in the second half.

Colbert made an old-fashioned three-point play, followed by a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give the Eagles 33-24 edge early in the third quarter.

Ryan Ramirez carried the Eagles in the first half when he scored 10 of his 11 points. Rashawn Latimer scored 12 and Lindsey 10.

Right after the final buzzer, public address announcer Nick Monaco told the crowd that the No. 2-seeded Falcons (13-10) would be Liberty’s opponent in Friday’s district tournament final.

The teams split four meetings this year, with Liberty capturing the last two, including the most important, a special tiebreaker held Feb. 10 for the regular season title. LHS won 77-70 by building a massive lead and holding off the hard-charging Falcons. That win gives Liberty home court Friday.

Asked if the Fauquier-Liberty rivalry is getting old, Lindsey said, “No, I love it. Rivalry games never get old.”

Patterson and Colbert said the game is pumping them up because they want to break the tie. “I can’t wait. It’s like an NBA playoff series that’s tied 2-2,” said Patterson.

“It’s gonna be a packed house,” said Colbert, who is relishing the thrill of a big game atmosphere.

Asked what he expects out of Fauquier tactically, Colbert more or less shrugged. "We played them straight up man last time," he said.

Although Frazer is perhaps more concerned about who his team will meet next Tuesday in Bealeton in the regional opening round, the coach indicated Friday's game is for the district tournament trophy and means a lot to the community.

“The kids love it. It’s game five!” he said.