The Liberty Middle boys basketball team ended a four-game losing streak with a strong 49-39 Foothills Athletic Conference home triumph Thursday versus Heritage.
Heritage led 6-2 in the early going behind four made free throws by Myrian Reid and an inside basket by Dalton Albright.
The Knights answered with a 10-3 flurry to end the opening period to take control. Forward Ben Brittain, point guard Daxton Bostian and seventh-grader Matthew Curtis scored field goals while Will Kirk connected on two free throws in that span.
Liberty (3-4, 2-4 FAC) expanded its lead behind the inside presence of power forward Peyton Mull (nine points) and the hot outside shooting of Bostian (five points) as the Knights led 29-21 at the half.
Heritage (0-6) made a surge in the third quarter behind the hot shooting of Mason Poteat, who canned three field goals in a two-minute span to get the Eagles within four points.
But Liberty answered again with a 10-0 run on baskets by Brittain, Mull and bookend 3-pointers by Bostian.
HMS was led offensively by Reid (10 points), Albright (nine) and Poteat (eight). Logan Justice dished out two assists while Cooper Abernathy led the Eagles in rebounding.
Bostian (18 points, five assists), Mull (13 points) and Curtis (seven) led the Knights’ offense.
GIRLS: Liberty 42, Heritage 25 - The Lady Knights improved to a perfect 6-0 in FAC play (7-0 overall) with a 17-point win Thursday.
Liberty’s Savanah Worley made two 3-pointers in the opening minutes, while post player Sisalynn Norman controlled the inside with a game-high 11 points. Guard Lindsey Adams gave a huge spark in the second half as the eighth-grader scored nine points and dished out three assists. Point guard Malarie Tallent led Liberty with five assists.
Maddie Phillips, Autumn Elder, Gracie Hawkins, Karson Guthrie and Kaytlin Hall led an aggressive defense anchored by a troubling 1-3-1 zone press in the second half.
Heritage (0-6 FAC) was led offensively by Brandy Lowman (eight points, three assists), Courtney Robinson (eight points) and Carrie Stoudemire (six points). Abi Norris, Madicyen White, Robinson and Casey Abee each contributed one assist.
Liberty hosts East McDowell while Heritage travels to Table Rock on Tuesday.
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