Liberty boys shut down Northside in second half

FOREST — Even if they didn’t always result in points, the steals Liberty High’s boys basketball team generated throughout Friday night’s Region III, Division 3, semifinal against Northside took their toll.

The Minutemen’s tenacious defense and Northside’s stagnant offense resulted in an 11-minute second-half scoring drought for the Vikings, allowing Liberty to pull away for a 55-37 blowout in a game played at Jefferson Forest.

With the win, the Minutemen (20-6) advance to tonight’s final at Brookville, joining the Bees in next weekend’s Group AA, Division 3, quarterfinals.

Coming off a week layoff since losing to Brookville in the Seminole District tournament final, Liberty showcased its athleticism with fresh legs and a do-or-die approach.

“It felt really different,” Liberty senior guard Tyler Gilchrist said of needing to win to stay alive. “We layed it all on the line. Our defensive pressure was probably the best we’ve played all year. Working hard in practice shows on the court.”

The Minutemen (20-6) forced nine steals and kept point guard Adam Burroughs from getting the Vikings in the flow of their offense.

“We picked up our defensive pressure,” said Liberty senior Chris Harmon, who led all scorers with 20 points. “Our pressure caused the steals and that opened up our offense. We knew if we got the ball out of (Burroughs’) hands, they couldn’t run their offense and it was ours.”

The Vikings (15-11) shot just 4-for-18 from 3-point range and were held to 15 points in the second half.

“Our best offense is our defense,” Monroe said. “The guys did a good job contesting shots and moving their feet. We knew we had to contest their shots. They’re a very good shooting team.”

Blake Thornburg and Steven Richie paced Northside with 11 points apiece.

Harmon, who netted a game-high 20 points, scored on four of five possessions during a two-minute stretch of the third quarter, banking in an off-balanced putback of his own miss for a 30-27 lead.

He started the fourth quarter by finishing a drive into the left of the lane and sending a baseball outlet after a defensive rebound to Ryan Nichols for three-point play and 39-27 Liberty lead.

“I had to go hard,” Harmon said. “I knew if we didn’t win this, there was no tomorrow and I didn’t want it to end here. I wanted another shot at Brookville, so I left it all on the floor.”

“He stepped up in the second half,” Monroe added. “He wanted the ball. That’s what we need from him this time of year.”

As tough as he was to stop in one-on-one situations, Harmon missed a couple of one-handed jams on breakaways and shot just 4-for-12 from the foul line.

“I was fatigued,” Harmon said of his free-throw shooting. “I know (tonight at Brookville), they’re going to count.”

The Minutemen will meet the Bees for the fifth time this season tonight at 8, having lost three of the first four, including last week’s district final at The Hive.

“It’s going to be a good one,” Monroe said. “I’m hoping we can finish this time down the stretch.“