Lions putting themselves in ‘playoff mode’

Liberty and Westminster were each coming off Carroll County Athletic League losses entering Thursday’s matchup.

It marked the first meeting between the teams this season and both had their sights set on rebounding with a victory but the Lions came out on top in dominating fashion, defeating the Owls 67-41.

Six days have passed since Liberty’s undefeated season streak was snapped in a county loss at Century, and the Lions only had Wednesday to practice prior to Thursday’s game. Inclement weather resulted in school closures on Monday and Tuesday, canceling any after-school practices and events.

“Coming off the Century loss, we wanted to get right back at it where we were before and get another win,” Lions senior Jack Merchak said. “Wewanted to take it to them right away and Coach [Brian Tombs] was telling us that we just have to come out fast and not wait for the second half.”

Fellow guard Connor Stewart, a junior, said there have been games this winter during which the Lions started out slow, and starting — and finishing — strong was one of the team’s central focuses against the Owls.

Merchak, Stewart, and senior Tristan Kent led the way for the Lions (17-1, 8-1 CCAL), who kept pace with first-place Century (9-1) in the county standings. The Knights have two county games remaining on their schedule, and split their regularseason series with the Lions.

Liberty has three, starting with Manchester Valley on Friday.

Merchak scored a game-high16 points for the Lions and added three assists, Stewart scored 12 points and notched seven assists and four steals. Merchak and Stewart contributed four steals apiece, and Kent, the Lions’ 6-foot-7 center, notched a doubledouble with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

The Lions scored 37 points in the first half and held the Owls to11— Stewart scored 12 in the half and Merchak had nine. The Lions had scoring runs of eight in the first frame and 19 in the second to build their lead.

Westminster’s Drue Giles sank two 3pointers to lead the Owls with six points at the break.