Liberty’s Lane spoils upset bid by Fauquier girls basketball team

Wednesday, Jan. 30 | By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

In a girls basketball game that featured 57 fouls and endless free throws, the Liberty Eagles converted a rare pair of consecutive layups during the final 30 seconds Wednesday to survive a surprising upset bid by the Fauquier Falcons.

Ashley Lane and Keyanna Gibson made those pivotal baskets to give the Eagles a 40-36 victory over Fauquier on the road in Warrenton, which kept Liberty in the hunt for the Evergreen District championship. The Eagles (8-10) improved their district record to 4-2 following a loss to Brentsville Tuesday, while Fauquier (2-15) fell to 1-4 in the Evergreen.

Ashley Newman gave Fauquier a 36-35 lead with 39 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter by making one of two free-throw attempts, but then Lane put Liberty ahead for good with a three-point play.

With 28 seconds left in the fourth quarter of a game that lasted nearly two and a half hours, Lane ran off a screen on an out-of-bounds play under the Eagles' basket. She caught the in-bound pass from Lizzy Berger, made a layup and drew a foul. Lane's ensuing made free throw gave the Eagles a 38-36 lead.

Eighteen seconds later, Liberty's Allison Croushorn blocked a Falcons' shot and rebounded another. That led to the sealing layup by Gibson on an assist from Lane, who led the Eagles with 14 points.

Croushorn finished nine points, while Kiana Smith did not play in the pivotal fourth quarter and did not score in the game.

For Fauquier, Tiffany Darden had nine points, while Hailey Miller and Rebeka Embrey had six each.

Liberty led 9-6 at the end of the first quarter and 17-15 at halftime, but Fauquier took a 26-25 lead at the end of the third to set up a back-and-forth final period.

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