LIBERTY CENTER – The Liberty Center Tigers used a 14-4 run to start the fourth quarter to take a tight game and turn it into a 67-49 win over the visiting Tinora Rams.

Tinora’s Owen Ackerman followed up a great first quarter from the night before with an even better first quarter vs. the host Tigers as he nailed a 30 footer to beat the first quarter buzzer to trim the Tigers lead to 17-16. Ackerman bucketed 10 first quarter points tonight and had seven initial quarter points last night.

Liberty Center’s Gavin Geahlen was a man among boys at times, bucketing 10 points in the first half, on his way to a game high 23 points. 

Liberty Center began to pull away midway through the second quarter, only to see the Rams mount a last second rally prior to halftime. Tinora cut a double-digit Tigers lead down to just seven, Liberty Center took a 35-27 lead to the locker rooms in a very physical first half.

Geahlen and Ackerman let their team in scoring with 10 each in the initial half.

The third quarter saw a back and forth match, with each team grabbing numerous one point leads. Liberty Center finally grabbed the lead for good as a drive and bucket by Seth Navarre gave the Tigers a 45-43 lead at the buzzer. Navarre’s presence inside was one of the reasons for the Tiger inside dominance throughout the contest.

The fourth quarter saw the Landon Kruse and Tigers get out and run, as well as controlling the boards, which lead to Liberty Center outscoring the Rams 22-6 in the final quarter. Tinora never got closer than the 45-43 score to start the final quarter. Kruse had 10 points overall, six in the second half.

TINORA  16-9-18-6=49
LC TIGERS 17-15-13-22=67

Tinora scoring: Ackerman 17, Welling 5, Rittenhouse 14, Leib 3, Spychala 8, McQuillen 3

LC scoring: L Kruse 10, Spangler 4, Like 3, Navarre 13, Walker 4, Robinson 8, Geahlen 23

Frosh game 40-29 LC
JV Game 38-30 LC

Tinora drops to 1-5. The Rams will be in action on 12/12 as they will host Miller City

Liberty Center improves to 2-1 and will take part in the Meyer-Badenhop Classic at Holgate on Dec 29 & 30.

Thanks again to LC AD Kaleb Pohlman and LC Tigers Sports Mark Bly for the great hospitality.