The varsity boys basketball team opened up their first home game of the new season on Tuesday against Orchard Farm. Coming into the night the Liberty Eagles had a record of 1-2, with moments of inconsistency and yet to find their identity on what kind of team they’ll be this year.
The Orchard Farm Eagles opened their season with a win against Ladue, coming into the night with that being there only game played (1-0). This was a high anticipated matchup with Liberty ready to make a statement in this game and find their feet for the first big time this year, while Orchard Farm was ready to come on the road and steal the show.
After a strong first quarter of basketball played, Liberty led Orchard Farm 15-14. Liberty looked to continue to play at the level they had been in the first quarter as they headed into the second quarter after a short break in between, unfortunately that wasn’t the case as Orchard Farm dominated the second frame and went on a 7-0 run and held Liberty to just seven total points in the second quarter. With Orchard Farm dominating the quarter, they went into halftime leading with a score of 29-22.
Coming out of the halftime break, the goal remained the same for Liberty, find a way to take the momentum and control of the game. The third quarter was back-and-forth with not a lot of action with a each team scoring points. At the end of three quarters, the score was 38-29 Orchard Farm leading. There needed to be a sense of urgency from Liberty to find a way to chase the game and score points to get back into it, but also not to give up more points and make the deficit – even larger than it had already been. Ultimately, the challenge was far to big to overcome this time around with the Orchard Farm Eagles continuing to score points resulting in a 55-40 victory.
The Orchard Farm Eagles improved to 2-0 on the season while Liberty fell to 1-3 to start the year. Liberty is yet to find their groove to start their season.
Post game reactions from Coach Sodemann: “There have been many levels of inconsistencies to this point so far, we’ll play well is some parts of the game but there is also moments when they matter where we haven’t switched on yet.”
Coach Sodemann on what he has seen from his side this season. “In high school basketball, there is a level of toughness that has to be met and our guys are not meeting that level right now, which is a reason we are not competing at a high level.”
It’s only a matter of time before Liberty finds their form and goes out there and grinds out a team win, that they are in desperate need for but it is never easy. The start hasn’t been what Coach Sodeman and his team have wanted at all, but he has confidence in his group to meet levels of toughness, expectations, motivating factors, and many other positive outcomes to get his Eagles over there slow start and out the gates for them to go on a run of good form.
ORCHARD FARM 51, LIBERTY 40
Liberty 15 7 7 11 – 40
Orchard Farm 14 15 9 17 – 55
