Catholic (BR) survives Liberty Magnet, 60-59, in chippy OT battle

Liberty Magnet and Catholic (Baton Rouge) battled back and forth Friday in a chippy District 4-5A opener, trading runs and leads often on the strength of streaks of 3-point shooting.   [player_tooltip player_id='1213632' first='Edward' last='Kornbacher'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1560413' first='Chandler' last='Holmes'] combined for five first-half treys to help push the Patriots ahead, and Connor Green's four in the third quarter helped the Bears answer and set up a dramatic fourth quarter and overtime.   But Catholic needed just a lone shot in the extra period, a 3-pointer by [player_tooltip player_id='1347276' first='Tate' last='McCurry'], and a string of defensive strong, including a McCurry block, to escape with the 60-59 road victory without allowing a Liberty field goal.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/embed/OiveL0CmsQM </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1347276' first='Tate' last='McCurry'] (6'2" | 2025)   The game wasn't the sophomore forward's best scoring performance from a volume standpoint, but the eight points he provided when the opportunities presented themselves came at pivotal, game-determining moments with a pair of go-ahead 3-pointers in the third quarter and overtime. And the same can be said for the highlights of a strong performance on the other end of the court. McCurry, the tallest player on an undersized team, helped lead a stingy defensive effort inside. The bigger and deeper Liberty Magnet scored 33 of its 59 points (55.9%) from beyond the arc and several others on foul shots and long 2-point jumpers. McCurry blocked three shots, including an impressive play in overtime on which he covered Patriots star [player_tooltip player_id='1105591' first='Howard' last='Gaskins'] on the baseline and timed a long-reaching stuff before the shot could even be released. He also grabbed three rebounds.   Connor Green (6'0" | 2023)   The senior wing went borderline unconscious from beyond the arc during the second and third quarters with a 6-for-7 stretch including four third-quarter treys that swiftly trimmed the Bears' deficit and regained the lead. Green finished with a team-high 20 points and all and helped provide major help on the boards with eight rebounds.   [player_tooltip player_id='1057516' first='Dennis' last='Hebert III'] (6'0" | 2023)   The senior guard made several big plays as Catholic's primary ball-carrier with seven assists that including back-to-back drives to the lane and corner kicks to McCurry and Green in the right corner for 3's at the height of the team's third quarter run. He also scored 13 points as a confident and reliable shooter and decision-maker from the Bears' first 3-pointer in the first quarter, a pull-up jumper from the elbow in the second, a driving basket in the third and 6-for-6 foul-shooting on the night including a go-ahead pair late in regulation. He also snatched a pair of steals.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/embed/X29Wcp4SFJw </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='1105591' first='Howard' last='Gaskins'] (6'2" | 2024)   The Patriots' junior standout led all players with 22 points on a pair of 3-pointers — including a high-arcing shot from several feet beyond the line, over a contesting defending in the final minute of the third quarter — and an array of spinning, driving and pull-up looks for other jumpers, floaters and lay-ups from all over the area inside the arc. He also provided six rebounds, four assists and two steals.   [player_tooltip player_id='1560413' first='Chandler' last='Holmes'] (6'3" | 2024) and [player_tooltip player_id='1213632' first='Edward' last='Kornbacher'] (6'8" | 2023)   The former duo led Liberty's early sharp-shooting: seven for its first 11 as a team and 11-for-21 in regulation before missing its two attempts in overtime. Kornbacher hit back-to-back treys in his eight-point first quarter to help push the Patriots ahead early, and Holmes hit three straight in the second quarter to stretch the lead to as much as 32-19. Holmes added a fourth-quarter 3 to finished with 12 points, four rebounds and a steal. And Kornbacher blocked a pair of shots, one inside and one on a well-closed and well-timed swat of a 3-point attempt.   Malek Robertson (5'8" | 2025)   The sophomore is a quick, tough, hyper-energy dog of a young point guard who appeared to relish the big matchup and electric atmosphere. Robertson was at his best penetrating and finding teammates for open looks with seven assists — whether kicking back or to the corners for 3's or dropping off to big men and cutters in the lane — or harassing opposing ball-carriers for six steals and several other deflections. He read and jumped passes on multiple occasions, but made several of his plays as the on-ball defender with his timing and quick hands. Robertson also scored four points and grabbed five rebounds.

Liberty Magnet and Catholic (Baton Rouge) battled back and forth Friday in a chippy District 4-5A opener, trading runs and leads often on the strength of streaks of 3-point shooting.