The Liberty Lions Varsity Boys Basketball team defeated the Queen Creek Bulldogs 72-63 on Thursday night.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Liberty Turns A Corner
The Lions (7-6) have had an on-and-off start to the season through the first month.
#TOUGHNESS pic.twitter.com/8sdrIfoHv1
— Liberty Lions Men’s Basketball (@LibertyLionsMBB) December 22, 2023
After going 22-7 and losing to the No. 1 ranked Perry Pumas in the quarterfinals of the open state playoffs last season, Liberty is trying to get back there with a different result.
The team’s star player and one of the top-ranked prospects in Arizona is senior forward/center Ring Nyeri. On the season, Nyeri is averaging 20.9 points, 13 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3.9 blocks, and 1.3 steals a game. He is without a doubt one of the most dominant players in the state on both sides of the ball. If the Lions make a deep playoff run, Nyeri will be a crucial reason why.
😤🍿@Ringnyerii 🎥 by:@willshotdat @LibertyLionsMBB @KCRoosMBB pic.twitter.com/Js7bRrjkTv
— Kenny Mullins (@Factorybball) December 23, 2023
Bulldogs Crumble
Queen Creek now falls to 7-4 to start the season and had their five-game win streak broken by the Lions.
The Bulldogs started the game off firing and outscored Liberty 24-11 in the first quarter. However, they absolutely crumbled in the second quarter, scoring just two points. This was very unlike Queen Creek and something they will make sure doesn’t occur again in the future.
Came up just short tonight against an excellent Liberty team. Boys competed their tails off. Quick turnaround with a marquee matchup on Saturday night against Casteel at the Suns Footprint Arena at 7:30 PM. Excited for the opportunity to compete on the big stage. @QCHS_Athletics
— Queen Creek High Boys Basketball (@QueenCreekBball) December 22, 2023
Despite the loss, the team looked much improved from last season and it is evident that first-year head coach Ben Torbert is making a difference in the locker room.
Next Up
The Lions next match-up against the 9-2 Thunderbird Titans on Tuesday, Dec. 26 @ 2:30 p.m. This is not an easy game for Liberty but one they can build immense confidence from if they’re able to pull off the win.
Queen Creek play the 8-2 Casteel Colts tomorrow @ 7:30 p.m. Casteel is a top 20 team in the state and it has not been an easy task to defeat them this season.
Both the Lions and Bulldogs haven’t had perfect starts to the season but are still above .500. Each team will attempt to make a run at the 6A and open state playoffs this season.
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Saleh Awwad is a reporter/writer covering Phoenix High School Sports and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @SalehAwwad_
