Another Early Lead and Late Loss for Redskins

Again, the Liberal Redskins built an early lead only to see it disappear in a 72-67 loss to the visiting Garden City Buffaloes Tuesday night in the Big House.  Liberal led 31-17 in the first half, trailed 61-50 in the fourth, rallied to cut the lead to 65-64, but couldn’t get over the hump in a Senior Night loss.  It was the final game in the Big House for seven seniors.

After leading by nine in the game at Garden City February 6, LHS followed a similar script Tuesday.  The Skins led 16-10 and led 18-12 after one.  LHS led 31-17 with 4:30 to play in the first half.  GCHS cut the lead to three at 35-32 with a 15-4 run.  But the Redskins recovered enough to lead 41-35 at the half.  The Buffaloes stampeded the Skins in the third 22-9 to lead 57-50.  The Buffs led 61-50 before a 15-3 Redskin run made it 65-64.  Garden City made two free throws to make it 67-64 with 33 seconds left.  Liberal split a pair of foul shots to make it 67-65 but GCHS knocked down a pair of foul shots to lead 69-65 with 28.2 seconds left.  A James Fieser lay in with 20.5 seconds left made it 69-67.  But Liberal did not score again.

Brooks Kappelmann was Epic Touch Player of the Game with 19 points and 11 rebounds.  It’s his sixth double-double of the season.  James Fieser added 18 points and seven rebounds.  Zayden Martinez scored 13.  Adan Mata had eight.

Garden City is 9-11 and 4-4 in the WAC.  They win their sixth straight over Liberal.  The Redskins had dropped 24 consecutive WAC games.  Liberal loses their sixth straight and falls to 5-14 overall and 0-7 in the WAC.  LHS finishes 2-7 at home.