By Kory Carpenter

Record Sports Editor

Liberty Christian Head Coach Butch Clark wasn’t sure what happened in the third quarter of his team’s 57-45 win over Providence Classical Christian Academy Tuesday night.

The Eagles held a 26-14 lead at halftime, but things began to unravel in the second half.

“They’d hit a shot and we’d turn it over, and then they’d hit a shot and we’d turn it over,” Clark said.

The Eagles committed consecutive turnovers to start the half, and Providence went on a 7-0 run to cut its deficit to five.

The Providence half-court trap fooled the Eagles for most of the quarter.

“We prepare for traps,” Clark said. “We just did a poor job of getting where we were supposed to be. It’s part of a learning experience.”

As the lead evaporated, Clark hoped someone would step up.

Without a single player to lean on when things are going haywire, the Eagles have relied on any number of contributors to help this season.

Tuesday night, it was freshman guard Andrew Voss.

Midway through the third quarter, Voss ended the Providence run with a layup and a free-throw.

“I thought Andrew played great tonight,” Clark said. “For a freshman, he played with a lot of poise, and we needed someone to step up.”

Voss finished with 20 points, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter as the Eagles held off a hot-shooting Panthers team.

Hot-shooting would not describe the Eagles Tuesday night.

The team finished with three 3-pointers, despite close to 20 attempts.

One of those, by the hot hands of Voss, gave the team much-needed breathing room with four minutes left in the game and a three-point lead.

Voss’ bucket extended the lead to 42-36, but it was the Eagles’ effort at the free-throw line that pleased Clark after the game.

As Providence knocked down jump shots to close the gap in the fourth quarter, Liberty Christian kept the Panthers at a comfortable distance with above-average free-throw shooting.

As far as the mental mistakes go, Clark didn’t seem worried as the team looks ahead to Bethel Christian Academy Monday night.

“When  you get into the late part of a close game, they’ll make a quick decision and it isn’t always the right one,” Clark said. “But they’re kids, and they learn.”

Clark does, however, look to improve his team’s shooting touch.

“We could have been up by 24 in the first half if we hit our shots,” he said.