Liberty Improves to 17-5 After Win Over Palo Verde

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liberty improved to 17–5 on the season Friday night after earning a hard-fought 56–50 victory over Palo Verde.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a game that featured hard-nosed defense, sharp shooting, and late-game execution, the Patriots made just enough plays in the final minutes to secure another solid win.<br><br>The contest remained close throughout, with neither team able to build a comfortable lead. [player_tooltip player_id='1962969' first='Ethan' last='Inocencio'] sparked multiple momentum swings with his tough shot-making from the perimeter. But Liberty consistently responded with timely baskets and defensive stops to maintain a narrow advantage. Several senior starters played key roles in that effort, including [player_tooltip player_id='1463230' first='Tyus' last='Thomas'], [player_tooltip player_id='1463237' first='Tayshawn' last='Caesar'], [player_tooltip player_id='1493480' first='Dante' last='Steward'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2145851' first='Evan' last='Hilliard'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liberty's defensive pressure and well-balanced offensive attack proved to be the difference. The Patriots forced tough looks, limited second-chance opportunities, and capitalized on high-percentage chances in the fourth quarter to keep Palo Verde at bay.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The win further bolsters Liberty's position among the state's top contenders and they'll no doubt continue to be a tough team to face in these last few weeks. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Notable Performances </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Liberty </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1463230' first='Tyus' last='Thomas'] hit a variety of shots on offense, ranging from driving layups to mid-range jumpers and three-pointers. Along with a pair of free throws in the final minute. He finished with 15 points.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1463237' first='Tayshawn' last='Caesar'] caught my attention with his energy and effort on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he knocked down three triples that gave the Patriots a major boost. Defensively, he consistently pestered ball-handlers and limited their ability to gain ground. Caesar finished with 13 points.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1493480' first='Dante' last='Steward'] scored his first baskets of the night on a pair of dunks. Before consistently getting to the line in the second half. Where he converted five free throws. Defensively, he played with physicality and limited Palo Verde's forwards, denying them quality looks. Steward finished with 11 points. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2145851' first='Evan' last='Hilliard'] once again brought his trademark intensity, using that energy to come away with a pair of steals and a block on the defensive end. He also turned those stops into offense, contributing timely baskets for the Patriots. All in all, his hustle paid dividends. Hilliard finished with 12 points.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Palo Verde</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1962969' first='Ethan' last='Inocencio'] played with real determination for the Panthers, finding different ways to get his shot off despite limited space to operate. Several of his makes came from well beyond the arc, and he also got to his jumper and to the charity stripe. He finished with a game-high 25 points in what was an entertaining and impressive performance.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fred Deuce Jones Jr. got going early with a three-pointer, a mid-range shot, and a layup. Defensively, he racked up three blocks. Unfortunately, a hard bump on a drive forced him to miss time down the stretch, but he still made several notable plays. Jones Jr. finished with 7 points.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cam Banks came off the bench and used his pace and basketball IQ to score a few timely buckets for Palo Verde. He connected on a much needed 3. Then drew contact in the final minutes to help close the gap. While the Panthers ultimately came up short, it was encouraging to see him make an impact. Banks finished with 7 points. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><br><br><br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->