After a series of challenging games, the Liberty Christian boys basketball team got a chance to take a collective breath on the basketball court on Monday.
From playing tough teams at the Battle …
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After a series of challenging games, the Liberty Christian boys basketball team got a chance to take a collective breath on the basketball court on Monday.
From playing tough teams at the Battle of Bourbon to taking on St. Clair on the road on Jan. 16, things haven’t come easily for the Eagles, as the team had lost four of its last seven games.
A total team effort changed all that, however, as Liberty rolled past Twin Cities Christian Academy 74-37.
Junior guard Phoenix Obermann, who tallied 24 points and seven assists in the win, said that the chance to work on things at actual game speed was critical. Practice is nice, he said, but being able to put in work against another team was ideal.
“We work on a lot of things, but it is better to get the chance to get them done in a game when we’re up,” Obermann said. “The chance to work on things (at game speed) will only help us when we’re in for a big challenge.”
Liberty Christian (14-5) led 25-8 at the end of the first quarter. The lead grew to 48-23 by halftime.
For as important as the points and the defense were to the lightning-quick start, Liberty coach Butch Clark highlighted the play of senior forward Willy Mueller with great delight when he heard the numbers.
Mueller recorded game-highs of 26 points and 21 rebounds while adding five assists and four steals. The effort came even though Mueller fouled out with just more than five minutes to play.
“He had nine rebounds in the first quarter alone,” Clark said. “But 26 and 21? Any coach would take that any night. You could tell he was on a mission.”
Mueller, who closed to within 10 rebounds of the school record, said that the ability to go out and do his part to help the team is his sole focus right now.
Sure, he’s aware of how close he is to the record and that he could break it on Tuesday when the Eagles take on Rivers of Life Christian at home, but helping the team earn the win on Monday was the most important thing to him.
“It felt good, I’m not looking to make this about me,” Mueller said. “We’re a team. If I would have hit it, I would have hit it. I’m even happier that we got the win. Tonight, we got the chance to work on our plays and our routines. We’re going to see all types of teams, and it (to succeed against them) is important.”
