By Amanda Perkins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
James Lee finished his first year as head coach of the Liberty Eagles with a 12-13 record. The Eagles took down Mountain Grove in the first round of district play after falling to them twice earlier in the season, but Hollister topped Liberty in the next round.
Liberty will return the majority of last year’s crew, but two graduates will be tough to replace: Kaden Daniels, the team’s leading scorer, and Zeb Cornman, an athletic inside presence.
Senior Dylan Cooper (6’0”) will help fill in the gaps with his ability to shoot the three and to add to the offense. “Defensively, Dylan does a great job and his length allows him to be able to guard multiple positions,” said Coach Lee, who also said Cooper keeps improving and growing.
Deion Lee, a 6’3” senior, averaged 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. “He has great court vision and a high basketball IQ, which makes him a tough player to stop,” said Coach Lee of his player and son. “His size, length, and ability to get to the rim are crucial for our success.”
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Junior Drew Ripko now has a year of varsity experience, and per his coach, had a strong summer season and has grown in size and skill. “His hustle and shooting ability will keep him on the floor,” said Lee. Last year, he averaged 8 points and 2 each of rebounds, assists, and steals per game.
Terrell Gaines is a sophomore who averaged 15 points per game last year. “He has a high skill set and it shows on the court,” said Lee. “Terrell is one of our best shooters and a true play maker. His presence on the floor is known by opponents.”
A new face to the varsity squad is Lucas Frazier, a 6’0” junior. “He showed us this summer that he is a varsity player,” said his coach. “His hard work, basketball IQ, and defensive effort make him a player on the court.”
Lee said after losing their leading scorer, the Eagles were forced to change offensive and defensive strategy. The response from the kids over the summer was positive. “I feel like our team chemistry has grown into something special,” said Coach Lee.
“Last season, we lost several games by less than five points,” said Lee. “This season, I expect us to win at least five more games and to appear in a tournament championship.”
The Eagles start their season November 30 at Winona.
