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In hoops wars, Liberty comes up a few bullets short
Say you were looking for a DVD to rent over the holidays, and you indecisively selected “War, Inc.,” a black comedy about a hit man played by John Cusack trying to complete an assassination in a fictitious country called Turaqistan.
It’s an Iraq-like hellhole Cusack doesn’t want to be in, even with the presence of Marisa Tomei as the muckracking left-wing journalist Cusack is trying to put the moves on.
Equally compelling entertainment would have been derived from following the thrilling escapades of the Liberty High boys basketball team the last two weeks.
While many teenagers relax and watch DVDs like “War, Inc.”, the Eagles were flapping their wings against a myriad of formidable non-district opponents, playing five games since Fauquier schools broke for Christmas and New Year’s.
The reviews were mixed. After beating South Lakes (Reston), 76-71, in the opening game of the Bulldog Bash on Dec. 27, the Eagles lost to host Wesfield, 61-58, in the semifinals, and Langley, 63-55, in the third-place game.
Liberty also fell to Potomac, 66-56, last Friday, then again to visiting Loudoun Valley, 60-58 last Saturday night.
The end result is that Liberty is 3-4 overall, and 2-1 in the Cedar Run District — with a huge district home game looming Friday against Fauquier.
The Eagles lost four straight during the break but showed they can compete with the traditional powers to whom they succumbed.
Liberty’s first loss of the year, to Westfield on Dec. 29 was a tight one, and a bit disappointing as the Eagles had a real chance to down the eventual tournament champion.
Liberty took its only lead at 4-2, on a Derrick Lee’s 17-foot shot. The rest of the game, the Eagles played catchup. Liberty made periodic runs but could never get closer than one point. Still, they never quit.
Westfield led 60-49 with less than three minutes left before a dramatic Eagle comeback that included nine consecutive points, including 3-pointers by Johnny Nettles and Stephen Yates, to make it 60-58 with 28 seconds left.
After a Peter Scanlon free throw with 17 seconds left increased Westfield's lead to 61-58, the Eagles got the ball back with a chance to tie...
See the Wednesday print edition of the Fauquier Times-Democrat for the complete story.
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