League Lookout: Liberty Conference
League Lookout continues this week with a look the Liberty Conference. Heading into the season, the Langley Saxons were regarded by many as the conference favorite. They currently stand as the only remaining unbeaten team in conference play, having recorded 7 wins. They…
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Continue ReadingLeague Lookout continues this week with a look the Liberty Conference.
Heading into the season, the Langley Saxons were regarded by many as the conference favorite. They currently stand as the only remaining unbeaten team in conference play, having recorded 7 wins. They are 11-4 overall, and are winners of 5 straight. The James Madison Warhawks stand in second place with a 6-2 conference record. They ripped off an 11-game win streak earlier in the season, and sit with a respectable 12-2 record. The Fairfax Rebels, who are 4-3 in conference with a 9-7 overall record, feature as much talent as any team in the conference, and could be poised for a run down the stretch.
Below is a look at some of the trends and players making noise in the conference as the season heads into the final stretch.
Saxons on a roll
As expected, Langley sits atop the conference standings just past the mid-way point. Yes, the Saxons return their leading scorers from last season, but the team has really stepped up and produced excellent results, particularly in conference play. Head Coach Scott Newman has done an exceptional job getting his group to buy in.
Nate Shafer has been the anchor behind the Saxons’ 11-4 start. The 6’5″ senior, who is committed to play college hoops at Swarthmore College, has been a serious double-double threat each night. He’s averaging 12.3 points per game this year, good enough for second on the team. His main impact comes defensively, where he’s been a stalwart as both a rim-protector and on the glass.
On the perimeter, Tavon Tarpley has been playing very well this season. The long-limbed 6-foot-3 senior is a tenacious defender, who has proven himself as a reliable scoring threat. Tavon is averaging a team-high 14.3 points per game, and has earned a team-high 82 free throw attempts. Sharpshooter Colter Carton has been another bright spot. The sophomore guard is third on the team in scoring, second in threes made, and is shooting nearly 88% from the foul line this season.
Warhawks can be explosive
With a 12-2 overall record; including non-conference wins vs. Robinson, Marshall, and Trinity Christain, James Madison is taking care of business so far. The Warhawks senior point guard Taiga Walker is averaging a team-high 16.3 points per game. Taiga a speedster who has done an exceptional job leading this team, setting up his teammates, defending, and attacking the rim.
5-foot-9 senior guard Daniel Ungerleider is has been the team’s best three-point threat. Daniel has drilled 46 shots from beyond the arc this season, which leads the team. He’s also shooting over 87% from the charity stripe.
Rebels holding steady
Fairfax has been somewhat inconsistent thus far. With an overall record of 9-7, the Rebels have failed to put together a win streak longer than two games this year. Despite those statistics, they should be still be considered a dark horse to win the league.
Alex McNaughton, who is committed to play college ball at Salisbury, is the teams leading scorer, averaging just under 16 points per game. 6-foot-2 senior Emmanuel Miller is averaging just under 14 points per game. He has been a forceful and aggressive presence for Rebels head coach Mike Barbee, having attempted a team-high 123 free throws this season.
Gaither getting back on track
6’3″ junior guard Langston Gaither is the third leading scorer in the conference behind Walker & McNaughton, averaging 15.6 points per game for the Hawks. After missing some time with a concussion, he bounced back in a big way, dropping a season-high 29 in a win vs. Madison this past weekend. After some early season struggles, look for Langston to potentially provide some late-season magic for Hawks head coach Carlos Poindexter.
Under-The-Radar Risers
Names like Shafer, Tarpley, Walker, McNaughton, and Gaither are relatively well-known. Here is a look at a number of other players who probably didn’t have much notoriety heading into the season, but are helping their teams in big ways.
KC Colbert, 6’5″ sophomore forward, Fairfax
KC Colbert has displayed a very good feel for the game in a reserve role this year. At 6-foot-5, he’s a forward with the ability to stretch the floor. He exhibits a confident and smooth shooting touch, to go along with a very good feel for the game.
Matias Prock, 6′ freshman point guard, McLean
Perhaps one of the more unheralded freshman in the region, Matias Prock is a steady and reliable presence at the lead guard spot. He handles pressure like a grizzled veteran, and makes advanced reads with the ball in his hands. He leads his team in free throws made, and attempted this year, while shooting a cool 80%. Look for him to emerge among the top lead guards in the 2019 class.
Marcus Cherry, 6’3″ junior forward, South Lakes
An athletic wing who exhibits a high motor, Marcus Cherry is coming into his own as his junior season winds down. Primarily a defensive specialist, Cherry has picked it up offensively of late, turning in recent 23 and 15 point performances. He’s third on his team in scoring, averaging over 10 points per contest.
Brian Cobbs, 6’2″ sophomore guard, Hayfield
Brian Cobbs, who is a star on the gridiron for the Hawks, has emerged as one of their primary scoring options on the basketball court this year. He’s a big, strong guard who can score from the perimeter and in the paint. Brian is second on the team, averaging nearly 12 points per game.
This Week’s Matchups
Tuesday (2/2)
Fairfax at Hayfield, 7:15 p.m.
Madison at Washington & Lee, 7:15 p.m.
South Lakes at Yorktown, 7:15 p.m.
Langley at McLean, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday (2/3)
Hayfield at McLean, 7:15 p.m.
South Lakes at Langley, 7:15 p.m.
Thursday (2/4)
Madison at Yorktown, 7:15 p.m.
Hayfield at Washington & Lee, 7:15 p.m.
Friday (2/5)
Fairfax at Langley, 7:15 p.m.
Madison at South Lakes, 7:15 p.m.
McLean at Yorktown, 7:15 p.m
Saturday (2/6)
Langley at Washington-Lee, 3:00 p.m.