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Incredible comeback gives LHS tie for district crown
It took one of the greatest comebacks in Virginia prep basketball history, but the Liberty boys basketball miraculously rallied to knock off Battlefield on Thursday and force a three-way tie for the Cedar Run District's regular season crown.
Liberty trailed by 16 points with just three minutes left before fighting back to force overtime. The Eagles then pulled away in extra time for a 66-62 victory. Liberty's dramatic win, combined with Culpeper's upset of Osbourn Park, ties those three teams for first, forcing a two-game playoff.
LHS plays OP at Fauquier High on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. The winner takes on Culpeper on Saturday night for the district title and an automatic regional bid.
It was 49-33 Battlefield when the Bobcats were called for an apparently harmless technical foul for hanging on the rim. Johnny Nettles drained the subsequent two free throws, and Stephen Massei followed with a four-play play - and the comeback was on.
After Battlefield pushed it back to 51-39, Steve Yates nailed a 3-pointer with 2:09 left and then after a quick Bobcat turnover, converted a layup to close the deficit to 51-44. Battlefield turned it over again and Derrick Lee split two free throws with 1:53 to play.
Fifteen seconds later, Yates nailed another three to close Liberty within 51-48. Battlefield then missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw chance with 1:19 left and Derrick Lee scored at the 55-second mark to make it 51-50.
Battlefield broke Liberty's press and converted an easy layup to reestablish a three-point cushion with 40 seconds left. Yates then airballed a 3-point attempt but Nettles saved possession by calling timeout while falling out of bounds with the ball. Out of the TO, Lee drained a wide open triple from the corner. Battlefield had two shots to win in the closing seconds, but could not hit, as the Liberty gym erupted in pandemonium.
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