Liberty outguns Lions in the end

St. Helens gives up big lead, comes back, and lets game slip away in fourth period

By John Brewington

The South County Spotlight, Feb 2, 2010

TRYING FOR TWO—St. Helens’ Andrew Paulson tries to cut threw the middle for a basket during Friday’s game with Liberty. The Lions came up short in a run and shoot contest.

John Brewington / The Spotlight

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The St. Helens Lions never gave in Friday night, but in the end they lost contact with Liberty, and a hard-fought 83-77 Northwest Oregon Conference game.

Liberty runs a platoon run and gun offense that works at times. Throw the ball up and hope it falls. They also got some officiating help along the way. They also full court press the entire game.

“These are numbers that you have never seen before,” St. Helens Coach Todd Smith said. He was referring to the 55 three-point shots the Falcons took in the game–sinking 12 of them. They sank 23 of 86 field goal attempts in the game. That’s just 26.7 percent from two-point range and they were 21.8 percent from the three-point line.

St. Helens post Zach Sweeney didn’t quite know what to make of the game. “That was probably the strangest game of officiating I have seen. It was a high tempo game and (a bit) tough. A couple of our kids were scared going in and (then) we went on a run and started knocking down our shots.”

It was the Lions that looked in charge at the start of the game. They were up 14-0 in the early going, and led 18-5 after one. The Lions were swept away in an avalanche of shots by Liberty, and a bunch of lopsided calls and non-calls in the second quarter. Liberty went on a 41-17 tear and led 46-35 at the break.

“The officials let Liberty’s style of play dictate,” Smith said. He added one of the officials told him that if they called everything they would have been there until midnight.

The Lions, led by Spencer Gordon, went on their period. Gordon had 11 points, including three treys in the period. St. Helens pumped 24 points through and moved into the lead on an Andrew Paulson three with 1:49 left, 58-56. Liberty would retake the lead and although St. Helens got close, they never led again.

In the fourth, St. Helens got within one, and then two, but Liberty pulled away. Four of St. Helens starters would foul out in the late going. Liberty would lose just one player. Liberty was called for 26 personal fouls and St. Helens for 32.

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