Liberty Christian Claims Regional 30 Title, Tops Greenwood Christian 58-43

Liberty Christian used depth, athleticism and a steady second-half push to wear down Greenwood Christian 58-43 in the Class 1A Regional 30 championship at Greenfield-Central on Saturday, claiming a semistate berth and cutting down nets for the third straight season at the same site.

The Lions, based in Anderson and playing with 19-7 on their record, controlled the game's decisive stretch after an early scare. Greenwood Christian had opened the game with a 12-0 run, started by sophomore guard Brayden Butler's 3-pointer and capped by Finn Satre's layup off a steal, and it briefly looked like first-year Cougars coach Tony Adragna had his team positioned for an upset.

Two minutes and 17 seconds was all the best-case scenario lasted.

As the game wore on, Liberty Christian's superior depth began showing. Satre tried to keep GCA alive late, draining a triple from the top of the key, and junior sixth man Ky Baker answered with five consecutive points of his own to pull the Cougars even at the 1:11 mark. On the ensuing possession, though, Lions freshman guard Ka'maries Allen buried a 3-pointer from the left wing, his only points of the game, and it ignited a 9-0 Liberty Christian run that put the game away.

GCA senior guard Kevin Gierke, who had punished Liberty Christian early with eight of his 10 points in the opening stanza, fouled out with 4:09 remaining in the fourth quarter. Baker, whose five-point burst had nearly rescued the Cougars, picked up his fifth foul at 1:56 left. This time, there would be no comeback.

The win extended Liberty Christian's winning streak to five games, a run that included a 81-25 blowout of Anderson Prep Academy and a 70-51 win over Tindley in the days prior. Just last week the Lions cut down nets for a fifth straight sectional title. Saturday's regional crown marked the third straight season Liberty Christian has claimed Regional 30.

For Greenwood Christian, the loss closed a 11-15 campaign under Adragna, who reflected on his group's character in the aftermath.

"I really can't say enough great things about this group that I had," Adragna said. "I can't say enough great things about the senior leadership I had. I just got done talking to my team that those seniors set the standard for what it means to be a senior at GCA. It's a tough pill to swallow today, but, man, when I look back on this season, I'm going to look back on it very fondly."

With Kendrick Martin cutting a piece of the net and coach Norman Anderson watching his program extend its postseason dynasty, Liberty Christian now awaits its semistate opponent. The Lions' record is listed as 19-7 by the Daily Journal and 20-7 by MaxPreps; the official figure should be confirmed with the athletic department before the semistate bracket is set.