Liberty Tech: One Month Later

The Liberty Tech Crusaders and Lady Crusaders made an early exit in the first round of the region tournament on Feb.22 and Feb. 23. The Lady Crusaders took on Jasmine James and Bartlett on Friday. Jasmine James is arguably one of the best guards in Tennessee. The Lady Crusaders stayed with Bartlett and quickly realized teamwork and hard defense can over play a one woman show. Unseemly in the end Bartlett pulled away and sent the Liberty Lady Crusaders home. The next day, the Liberty Crusaders went off against Millington. This time the Crusaders were the favorites to win. The game was close upon exiting the first half. The Crusaders ,at the beginning of the second half, began doing what they did all year, the pulled away to a 10 point lead. Close to the end, Millington began fighting back with Steve Kerr,who finished with 19 points, on the attack. To accommodate the sharp shooter, Millington began pressuring. The press left a 3-point bucket open ever time down the floor and it seemed that almost ever time the Crusaders missed it. To Liberty Tech's displeasure, Tarius Johnson and Marlin Dotson both fouled out in the last minutes of the 4Th quarter. Johnson and Dotson are two key rebouders and scorers.The Trojans continued to pressure and rebound after a chronic 3-point miss by Liberty. Upon entering the game, many fans were displeased with decision to put the 6'8 center in after Dotson fouled out. However, to their surprise, Kirby Tritt drew an charge, offensive foul, at the late stages of the game. The play for Liberty was a missed 3-pointer by C.Williams, a missed 3 by C. Holt, rebound by Kirby Tritt, and a missed 3 by R. Williams. All of this in the last 20 seconds.+
Liberty Tech Crusaders
Today, the Crusaders must find ways to improve. This year the Crusaders will loose Charles Holt(SG),(Cordarius)Jay Greer(SG), and Kirby Tritt(C). This will leave it up to Ricky Williams(PG), (Tarius) TJ Johnson(SF/SG), and Cordaro (Cord) Williams(PG/SG) to assume role as the team leaders. Kendall Anthony(PG) did not see much of the court in his last game on Feb. 23 vs. Millington, but he will have to play a large amount of minutes for Liberty next season. Jauwon Cain(SG), Joevontae Arnold(SF/SG), and Ricky Parks(F) must step up as scorers and as defenders. Chris Johnson must improve his scoring in order to assume a position as a one of three senior leaders.