Liberty celebrates centennial year
Hurricanes will try to make school’s 100th anniversary a season to remember
Because of the pandemic, the 2020-21 scholastic boys basketball season was a disjointed and disruptive mess for virtually all coaches, especially for first-year coaches such as Liberty’s Nigel Long.
His Hurricanes were one of the last teams in the area to play a game, then were shut down again for several days for not wearing their masks properly and never got into a rhythm in a season that ended 3-9.
In 99 seasons of Bethlehem/Liberty High School, it was the program’s fewest number of games played and fewest Hurricanes wins.
Long, however, doesn’t look back at last season as a lost cause. In fact, he sees it as a blessing.
“Last year was quite an experience for us, but there are no losses, only lessons,” he said. “We learned a lot of great lessons last year as a coaching staff and a program. We’re looking forward to using those lessons from last year to grow and continue to grow every day this season.”
Just having a full offseason to work together was a plus for both the coaches and players.
“We got to play in the Cedar Beach summer league, the Cedar Beach tournaments, we went to Philly Live events, and in the fall we went down to West Chester and participated in a couple of local shootouts,” Long said. “We spent a lot of time together and really got an opportunity to grow as a team.
“Plus, for the kids to be back in school five days a week has been a plus. The energy’s great and I think everybody is excited for the season.”
Liberty returns three of its top five scorers from last season in Joseph Barnes (10.4 ppg), Josh Farrell (9.5 ppg), and Nate Rivera (5 ppg). Others such as Nazjah Jones, Angel Holguin and Derk
Wescoe got into a few games as underclassmen and are looking forward to expanded roles on a deep team.
Long likes the team’s mix of veterans and newcomers and a lineup that can feature a lot of size and quickness. But he also knows how challenging the EPC will be this year, especially his Steel Division, which features the other two Bethlehem schools, Dieruff, Easton and Nazareth.
“It all starts with our division, and I have respect for the coaches and players in our division and the rest of the league,” Long said. “Every day we take the approach of what are we going to do in practice to better prepare us for the games.”
Long appreciates his position as caretaker of one of the most tradition-rich programs in Lehigh Valley sports and feels blessed to call Memorial Gym, one of the most historic venues in the area, his home. He wants Liberty boys basketball to rise to the occasion of the school’s 100th anniversary and put last year’s difficulties in the rearview mirror.
“We definitely want to get in a full slate of 22 games after last year,” Long said. “In talking with other coaches from around the conference, we all had things to deal with, things we all struggled with. It’s the programs that handle adversity that succeed.”
He says there’s a special energy in the school and among his players this season and he wants it to be a special season.
“I love the Bethlehem Area School District,” Long said “I love it here with a wonderful administration, great kids, and there’s great history.
“You walk through the hallways, the cafeteria and step into the gym, it just breeds history and tradition. It’s an honor to be the head coach here and I take a lot of pride in it. We’re representing not just the boys basketball program, but also the school. We always want to put our best foot forward.”
Liberty Hurricanes
Coach: Nigel Long (2nd season). 2020-21 season: 3-9, 2-7 EPC. Lost to
Emmaus 60-55 in the first round of the District 11 6A tournament.
Season opener: Dec. 10 at Hatboro-Horsham.
EPC opener: Dec. 14, at Nazareth Players to watch: Nate Rivera (5-11, Jr. G); Josh Farrell (5-11, Sr. G); Joseph Barnes (6-1, Sr. G); Angel Holguin (6-5, So. F); Derek Wescoe (6-0, Jr. G); Kuwasi Wellington (6-2, Sr. F); Nazjah Smith (6-4, Sr. F); Dwyane Chess (6-2, Fr. F);
Take note: Kyle Mills, who had been an assistant coach at East Stroudsburg North and a former player for the Timberwolves and Penn State-Dubois, has joined the coaching staff as the head junior high coach and an assistant varsity coach.
The Hurricanes will be playing in the Allen High Christmas tournament and helping the Canaries celebrate 100 years of basketball Dec. 28.
On Jan. 8 at Memorial Gym, Liberty will celebrate its own 100 years of basketball with a ceremony involving returning alumni prior to a nonleague game against Whitehall. Liberty also has Southern Lehigh, Hazleton, and Muhlenberg Township on its nonleague schedule.
Why the Hurricanes could be dandy: Long needs the team to come together and buy in and trust each other, especially in times of adversity. While there’s scoring balance, a go-to guy will be needed to emerge to take charge down the stretch of close games, of which there figures to be many.
The final word: Liberty has one of the brightest young coaches in the sport in former Freedom and Muhlenberg College standout Nigel Long. He was just 24 when hired at Liberty in May of 2020, but few coaches have the maturity and perspective that Long possesses. Many coaches would have made excuses for the struggles his program encountered last season, but Long stayed positive and chalked it up as a learning experience.
With one season and a full offseason behind him, expect Long to be more comfortable this season and expect the Hurricanes to be a more competitive team. While they don’t immediately come to mind when talk turns to the EPC’s top contenders, there’s enough talent in place for the Hurricanes to compete for league and district tournament berths.