The Lady Lions’ Katie Labanauskas fights for the ball in Friday’s game against Brewster.
By Don Nelson
Tote up the scores from quarters one, two and four of the Liberty Bell High School girls’ basketball game against Brewster on Friday (Dec. 18), and the Lady Lions come away with their first victory of the season.
But the games go for four quarters, and a flat third quarter sunk the Lady Lions’ chance for a win.
Coming out of halftime down by just five points, Liberty Bell gave up 15 points to the visiting Lady Bears while only scoring two in the third quarter. Liberty Bell mounted a comeback in the final quarter, highlighted by junior Lauren Fitzmaurice lighting it up from the outside, but it just wasn’t enough.
“Our effort was good, especially on defense,” coach Ed Smith said after the game. “They [Brewster] have got a lot of firepower. That one bad quarter made the difference.”
Fitzmaurice led Liberty Bell’s scoring with 14 points, followed by Katie Labanauskas with 10, Carlynn Treise with two, Exie Romero with four, Monica Chavey with two, Lauren Ochoa with four and Haley Bakke with two.
It was the Lady Lions’ second straight close call. They lost at Oroville, 43-37, on Dec. 15 — a game Smith said Liberty Bell could have won. “We just had too many unforced errors,” the coach said.
On Monday (Dec. 21), Liberty Bell dropped a home game to Pateros, 55-39. Of consolation for the Lady Lions, it was their highest point total so far this year. Earlier this season, Liberty Bell lost to Pateros, 43-31.
As of Monday, Liberty Bell’s record was 0-3 in league play and 0-5 overall.
Complete statistics weren’t available for the three games reported here, but will be published as soon as possible.
Next up for Liberty Bell is the Chelan Holiday Tournament on Monday and Tuesday (Dec. 28–29).
STATS
Brewster 48, Liberty Bell 38
| Brewster | 15 | 9 | 15 | 9 | 48 |
| Liberty Bell | 12 | 7 | 2 | 17 | 38 |
