Homecoming Heartbreak for Liberal

For the third time in four years, a Hays at Liberal boys basketball game finished regulation with a buzzer beater. Liberal’s Jade Cathey hit a shot in the lane with six seconds remaining but Hays’s Dexter Pfeifer found Dan Moritz for a 15 jumper at the buzzer to send the game to overtime tied at 39. Overtime finished tied at 44. Hays won in double overtime 52-47 in front a big crowd Friday at the “Big House.” After a Tyson Deaton tip tied the game at 37 with 38 second remaining, Jade Cathey intercepted a pass giving Liberal the chance to take the lead which they did. Liberal head coach Drew Gruver says his team gave a great effort. “I told the guys I’m proud of them,” Gruver said. “They played a very tough game. They played very hard the whole way through. It’s tough to lose a game like that because they played so hard and played so well.” Liberal led 20-18 at halftime and led by as many as eight (30-22) late in the third quarter before a 14-4 run would give the Indians (12-5, 4-1) a two point lead (36-34) late in the game. Jade Cathey scored 23 in the loss while Kowan Russell added 11. Liberal misfired at the free throw line to the tune of 13-29 while Hays wasn’t much better going 10-22. Liberal is 10-6 overall and 1-4 in the WAC and hosts Sunrise Christian Saturday night at about 7:45 in the “Big House.” The game will air on Talkradio 1270. Lorie Rine won homecoming Friday night.