On the basketball court, it was a week of ups and downs for Warren County schools, with each boys' team earning at least one win while the girls' teams weren’t as lucky.

Tuesday, all three Warren County boys’ teams emerged victorious from their games, three years to the day since all three had won on the same night.

Liberty Christian boys win big, lose to bigger school

On Saturday, the Liberty Christian boys team capped a week that featured a senior night win on February 3 and a loss at Winfield on February 5 with a resounding win to open the Metro Athletic Conference tournament.

The Eagles, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, dominated Providence Christian by a 70-33 score in a game played on Saturday at Christian Academy of Greater St. Louis. The win came after a 20-point victory over Maranatha Baptist and a 50-45 loss to Winfield.

Liberty (19-6) led Providence 25-12 at the end of the first quarter and never looked back. A 35-18 halftime lead only increased as the team’s full-court press stymied Providence. Liberty coach Butch Clark said the game was probably closer than it should have been until the fourth quarter, when Liberty dominated by a 22-5 margin.

“It took us three quarters (to find that pressure), but I guess they finally wore down,” Clark said. “The fourth quarter was what it should have been.”

Junior guard Phoenix Obermann led Liberty with 28 points while senior forward Willy Mueller added 18 points and 17 rebounds.

Liberty was set to play Victory Christian in the tournament semifinals after press time on Tuesday. The winner of that game would then likely face the overwhelming tournament favorite and tournament top seed – Westwood Baptist – for the championship on Friday.

“We’ve just got to play hard and play as a team,” Obermann said. “Hopefully, when we get to that championship game, we play our best.”

Wright City boys’ two-game streak snapped

The Wright City boys basketball team was riding high last week after wins over North Point and Mark Twain, but the Wildcats dropped a 50-33 decision against Silex on February 6.

Against Mark Twain on February 3, sophomore Kaveon Schulte drained a trio of 3-pointers on his way to a team-high 18 points.

Junior Dylan Lenoir and senior Lavarious Green each chipped in nine points in the win.

“Our team did a good job of defending and rebounding,” Wright City coach Ken Brown said. “Those were the keys to our success.”

Warrenton boys split games

It took a bit of extra work, but the Warrenton boys' basketball team rallied past Pacific on February 3.

The Warriors earned the 60-53 win over the host school in double overtime.

Warrenton ended regulation tied with the host Indians at 47 points apiece, but without the team’s leading scorer, Brodey Meier, who scored 17 points in the game but fouled out late.

In stepped the quartet of junior guard Carter Martin, senior guards Deadrick Forrest and Jay Sanders and senior forward Billy Speiser.

Each player recorded at least three points between the overtimes as Warrenton (8-12) earned the win.

“The guys really stepped up big in overtime,” Warrenton coach Mark Thomas said. “Brodey fouled out with a couple of minutes left in the fourth, and we did (have other step up).”

In the end, Meier’s points were supplemented by 15 from Martin and 14 from Forrest.

Warrenton did fare so well at Winfield, however, as a cold shooting night in the 46-37 defeat.

Forrest led the Warriors with 14 points.

Wright City girls drop a pair

A 30-point first quarter by the Tigers proved impossible to overcome as Wright City dropped a game by a 75-51 score on February 3 on the road.

Wright City did outscore its opponent by seven points over the last three quarters, but it wasn’t nearly enough to affect the outcome.

Senior guard Shiriah McRoberts led the Wildcats with 20 points while junior guard Ada Ferrell pitched in 12.

Junior post player Olivia Wilson had another big individual night, adding 10 points and 13 rebounds in the defeat.

Things didn’t go much better for the Wildcats on February 6 as Wright City (5-14) lost at home to Silex by a 57-25 score.

Against Silex, senior guard Shiriah McRoberts led the way with 11 points while senior Kaitlyn Mikus added seven.

Liberty Christian girls drop tourney opener

A strong first quarter from the Liberty Christian girls basketball team and freshman guard Bristol Barron wasn’t enough as the Eagles dropped the 46-31 decision to Victory Christian to open the Metro Athletic Conference girls tournament.

Barron scored six of her team-high nine points in the opening eight minutes and Liberty trailed just 13-11.

Victory grew the lead the rest of the way, however, and won going away.

Liberty now drops into the consolation bracket of the event, which runs through Friday.