By Don Nelson
After an impressive win in the first game of the Cascade Tournament on Dec. 28, the Liberty Bell High School varsity girls’ basketball team was overwhelmed by Cle Elum in the championship game on Dec. 29.
The Lady Lions opened the tournament with a 45-32 win over Cascade in their best game of the season. But Cle Elum proved much tougher, running to a 51-25 victory over Liberty Bell.
Coach Ed Smith said the Lady Lions didn’t play up to their abilities in the Cle Elum game. Both Cascade and Cle Elum are Class A schools.
Against Cle Elum, Lauren Ochoa led the Liberty Bell scoring with eight points, followed by Lauren Fitzmaurice with 6, Monica Chavey and Haley Bakke with four each, Exie Romero with two points and Carlynn Treise with one. Playing but not scoring were Kate Labanauskas, Emily Paul, Amanda Dwinell and Nadine Treise.
Liberty Bell was scheduled to play at Bridgeport on Tuesday (Jan. 5). The Lady Lions will host Okanogan on Friday (Jan. 8) at 6 p.m., and will be home again on Saturday (Jan. 9) against Omak, also at 6 p.m. On Tuesday (Jan. 12) they will travel to Manson.
