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Volume 35, Issue 10 | January 27, 2022 50 Cents | www.LHIndependent.com | News@LHIndependent
2022
Barry Boren is at 800 wins and counting p.5
Senior midfielder running the engine room p.6
Liberty Hill Independent goes daily online, monthly in print
From left, Girl Scout Jillian Hamrick, Pacesetter K9 Owner Brad Langham, LHPD Officer Esteban Gomez-Sanchez and LHPD Chief Royce Graeter with K9 Evo following the ceremony welcoming him to the police department.
K9 officially joins ranks of LHPD
By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer After nearly two years, Girl Scout Jillian Hamrick’s project to donate a K9 to the Liberty Hill Police Department has come to a fulfilling end. Hamrick, who was working toward earning her Gold Award through the Girl Scouts of America—the high-
est award that can be earned as a Girl Scout—decided that for her award, she would train and donate a K9 to LHPD with the help of Brad Langham, owner of Pacesetter K9 in Liberty Hill. Throughout her project, Hamrick, who is a senior
See POLICE, Page 4
By SHELLY WILKISON Owner/Publisher Big changes are in store for your hometown newspaper next month -- changes that will help you get the news and information you’re looking for in real time while enjoying a monthly news tabloid delivered to your mailbox. We launch our new website -LHIndependent.com -- on Feb. 1. Updated daily with local news, sports, an event calendar, opinion pieces, classified ads and much more, the new website will keep you updated and engaged in real time. With the launch comes the email newsletter -- THE DAILY INDEPENDENT -- with the latest from the newsroom directed regularly to a growing list of subscribers. The website becomes the community’s daily newspaper -- a first for Liberty Hill. With the launch of our daily web product, we are saying goodbye to our weekly print newspaper on Feb. 10. After more than 34 years in print every week, it will be a big change for our business, but the decision was driven by the significant movement of readers who prefer digital for-
mats over print, as well as increased costs for paper, printing and postage. As is the case for newspapers across the nation, these are challenges that your hometown paper has been dealing with for a few years, but the pandemic’s two-year impact on local advertisers escalated the need to make this change now. For those of us who prefer to get ink on our hands when we read the newspaper, some of the changes in our industry have been hard to watch. But at the heart of our continued drive for excellence is this community’s continued trust in the reporting of our profes-
sional team of journalists. An online daily offers us a more effective way to reach you in real time and offers a format to report the news without regard to print page boundaries and word counts. Our brand new monthly publication -- LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT MONTHLY -- will be delivered to every household and business! While the weekly print edition will stop publication next month, it will be replaced by a monthly tabloid that will mail to every postal customer in our zip code (78642) starting March 4. The publication will include all of the local news and feature stories that you rely on from us
every day online, as well as the special lifestyle features and departments typically published in our signature magazine Liberty Hill Living. The Monthly publication will be a hybrid of both publications. This is a big win for everyone! For local businesses, the change brings the ability to reach more customers where they are -- online where prior to the new website launch more than 28,000 viewers per month were reading our stories, and in print where the circulation of our Monthly tabloid will reach more than
See WHAT’S NEW, Page 4
City making progress on swim center
Dirt is moving at Liberty Hill City Park where the future swim center will be located. The project is set to be completed this summer. City Administrator Lacie Hale said the City has received approval from the permitting process through Williamson County as well as the Health District. She added that the final design plans are 75 percent complete and horizontal construction has started to keep the project on track to finish by summer 2022. Hale said the construction site does block off one entrance and some parking at the park, but that it is necessary for the safety of the site. She added the City will be communicating with the Liberty Hill Youth Soccer Association, which will run practices and games at the park during its spring season, to let the community know that area will be closed to the public until the pool is complete. The construction should not affect any of the fields, she added, just one entrance and some of the parking. RACHEL MADISON PHOTO
Malted Grains owners selling restaurant, moving to new ventures
By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer For the last five years, Michael Biggs and Melissa Day have been a huge part of the Liberty Hill community through their restaurant Malted Grains. From when they first opened under the name Liberty Hill Bakery and Café until they became the place for family- and individual-sized to-go meals, the restaurateurs molded themselves into what the community wanted and needed—like the time they provided food for donations only during the first wave of the COVID pandemic in 2020—and kept customers ©2022 The Liberty Hill Independent
coming in with popular weekly events like their Friday pizza night and Saturday bake shop. Now, the couple is selling their restaurant, which they renamed Malted Grains a year after they opened, and are moving on to a new adventure. “Our goal was to be here five years, and it’s been five and a half,” Biggs said. “We wanted to get our kids out of high school before we did anything. We are empty nesters now, all our kids are in college, and we are going to be able to semi-retire.” Day said moving on from Malted Grains after five years has always been the plan, as the couple eventually wants to land in East Texas. “We’re not doing this out of necessity; this is our plan,” she said. “We want to eventually open a venue in East Texas for
weddings, reunions and other events. That’s the direction we’re going in, but when we leave Liberty Hill, we plan on traveling for five or six weeks first so we can just relax and see the country.” Day said the couple plans to keep their Malted Grains Facebook page live so the community can follow along with their travels. She added that they plan on posting an occasional video sharing where they are and what they’re up to as they explore the country. After their trip, Biggs and Day will start looking for a property in East Texas that will work for their future venue. Money from the sale of their home here will be used to purchase the land, and then they’ll start working toward building
RACHEL MADISON PHOTO
Michael Biggs and Melissa Day, owners of Malted Grains restaurant in downtown Liberty Hill, See MALTED, Page 4 have sold their business and will soon embark on their next venture in East Texas.
Page 2
LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
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PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE The administrative office of Williamson County ESD No. 4 is located at 301 Loop 332, Liberty Hill, Texas 78642. This notice is published pursu- Blue Sky Texas, based in West Texas, is opening a restaurant in Liberty Hill near the Starbucks at 13057 State Highway 29. ant to Section 775.036(f) of the (Courtesy Photo) Texas Health & Safety Code. (1/27)
LEGAL NOTICES SECOND NOTICE Victor Montes/Jodie Hernandez Court hearing February 3/2022 at 845 am. Case # JG10337. Join hearing (917) 781-4590 Access code 312 434 5# (1/27p)
By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer West Texas-based restaurant Blue Sky Texas has plans to expand to Liberty Hill. A site development permit was submitted earlier this week for the project, which will include a 6,200-squarefoot restaurant as well as 6,000
square feet of multi-tenant retail just east of Starbucks at 13057 Hwy. 29. Blue Sky Texas, which began in Lubbock in 2003, has six West Texas locations and is known for its handmade hamburger patties, homemade buns, hand cut fries, and homemade ranch dress-
ing. The restaurants also serve hand-dipped Bluebell ice cream shakes, wings, chicken fried steak and salads. Blue Sky Texas is described as a comfortable and casual restaurant where people will want to go to hang out with family and friends. The project is in the very be-
ginning stages, said property manager and realtor Brad Andrews, so no timeline has been set. Follow the Liberty Hill Independent for future developments on this story. For more information on the restaurant, visit www.blueskytexas.com.
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Week of Jan 17-23, 2022 The Liberty Hill Police Department responded to or self-initiated a total of 533 incidents resulting in three cases, 39 citations, 54 warnings and two arrests. Weekly Highlights: - On Jan. 17 at approximately 7:55 AM, officers responded to the 11000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident. - On Jan. 17 at approximately 12:16 PM, officers responded to the 14000 block of W. SH 29 to assist the Liberty Hill Fire/ EMS. - On Jan. 17 at approximately 3:14 PM, officers responded to the15000 block of W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard. - On Jan. 17 at approximately 4:22 PM, officers responded to the 4000 block of US 183 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On Jan. 17 at approximately 7:56 PM, officers responded to Sally Way for follow up information. - On Jan. 17 at approximately 11:30 PM, officers responded to Liberty Place Cove for a 911 silent call. - On Jan. 18 at approximately 12:33 PM, officers responded to Neal Dr. to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On Jan. 18 at approximately 5:19 PM, officers responded to the 12000 block of W. SH 29
for a 911 silent call. - On Jan. 18 at approximately 5:32 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard. - On Jan. 18 at approximately 8:08 PM, officers responded to the 1000 block of RM 1869 for a mental health issue. - On Jan. 18 at approximately 9:35 PM, officers responded to Deep Lake Dr. for suspicious activity. - On Jan. 19 at approximately 12:11 AM, officers responded to the intersection of W. SH 29 and Ronald Reagan to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On Jan. 19 at approximately 7:57 AM, officers responded to the 15000 block of W. SH 29 for a welfare concern. - On Jan. 19 at approximately 1:01 PM, officers responded to Continental Dr. for a traffic hazard. - On Jan. 19 at approximately 7:44 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for a 911 silent call. - On Jan. 19 at approximately 8:57 PM, officers responded to Spotted Rail Ridge for a family issue. On 1/20/22, at approximately 6:32 AM, officers responded to Holmes Dr. for a suspicious incident. - On Jan. 20 at approximately 9:42 AM, officers responded to the 12000 block of W. SH 29 for a 911 silent call.
- On Jan. 20 at approximately 11:42 AM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for an alarm call. - On Jan. 20 at approximately 3:20 PM, officers responded to the 15000 block of W. SH 29 for a citizen assist. - On Jan. 20 at approximately 11:00 PM, officers responded to the 12000 block of W. SH 29 for follow up information. - On Jan. 21 at approximately 1:44 AM, officers responded to Continental Ave. for suspicious activity. - On Jan. 21 at approximately 6:49 AM, officers responded to the 3000 block of RM 1869 to assist the Liberty Hill Fire/ EMS. - On Jan. 21 at approximately 2:21 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident. - On Jan. 21 at approximately 4:45 PM, officers responded to Independence Ave. for a 911 silent call. - On Jan. 21 at approximately 7:56 PM, officers responded to Purple Mountain Dr. for a welfare concern. - On Jan. 21 at approximately 11:55 PM, officers responded to the 300 block of Loop 332 for a disturbance. - On Jan. 22 at approximately 2:46 AM, officers responded to CR 279 for an animal cruelty complaint. - On Jan. 22 at approximately 10:23AM, officers responded
to the 15000 block of W SH 29 for an alarm call. - On Jan. 22 at approximately 12:09 PM, officers responded to the 500 block of Loop 332 for suspicious activity resulting in the arrest of a male adult for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and possession of a controlled substance. - On Jan. 22 at approximately 8:50 PM, officers arrested a male adult for driving while intoxicated, as the result of a traffic stop on the 9000 block of W. SH 29. - On Jan. 22 at approximately 11:08 PM, officers responded to the 2000 block of US 183 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On Jan. 23 at approximately 3:02 AM, officers responded to Capstone Road to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On Jan 23 at approximately 10:19 AM, officers responded to the intersection of W. SH 29 and Ronald Reagan for a traffic hazard. - On Jan. 23 at approximately 3:45 PM, officers responded to the 2000 block of RM 1869 for an alarm call. - On Jan. 23 at approximately 7:16 PM, officers responded to the 11000 block of W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard.
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LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Page 3
You should support reporting the local news, especially when you don’t agree with it
By WILT CUTTER Columnist Cable television news is the worst. The empty suits who should be telling us what’s happening across the globe somehow manage to intermittently intermingle their personal opinions with what should be a simple reporting of the facts. Real local news reporters and the local small businesses that employ them know that even today’s facts are but temporary. For example, our ancestors once believed the world was flat. They were highly sure of this fact but it was later proven to be incorrect. News reporters don’t believe their articles to be scriptural, handed down from the Lord above. Instead they are reporting the truth as it happens. As they find out more, they report it to you as soon as they can. John Adams said facts are stubborn things. Yes, the truth is real and it should be the professional examination of
all the journalistic x-rays, ultrasounds and electrocardiograms we can find. But what if your local news source was owned by politicians? Or certain political hacks masquerading as news writers? Well, the news sure wouldn’t be Independent and it damn sure wouldn’t be news. That’s why hometown newspapers and news organizations deserve your support. As social media spreads unsubstantiated rumors the hometown reporters who live right here in your community take the time and care to chase down the facts and share both sides of the story. Local businesses that continually advertise in the local media aren’t just doing so because they are reaching out to a local customer base, they are investing in bringing you the news. While local small businesses are investing in another small business, they are also investing in making sure that you know what is happening in your community. They want you to know the facts, digest them without being force fed some political agenda and
make up your own mind about how you and your family should respond to the things going on around you. That’s the difference between the fake news organizations that never admit there may be more to the story and local news reporters with real journalism degrees and experienced backgrounds who just look for the truth. After many years of being around the news I will take this time to share the truth about the other staff members here at the Liberty Hill Independent…I’ve never known how Shelly, Stacy, Rachel, Scott, James or Alex have actually voted, but I have ferreted out their one real bias -- they all are really rooting for the Fighting Panthers and they don’t seem to care who knows it. Wilt Cutter is the only man in the world whose name is his profession. He finds beauty in the naturally occurring poetry of the Shin Oak Ridge and its people. His typewriter hates injustice.
PEC now accepting nominations for 2022 Board of Directors Election
From Staff Reports JOHNSON CITY — Nomination petitions are now open for PEC members seeking to serve their communities on the Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) Board of Directors in districts 4 and 5. Directors serve three-year terms. Petition forms and additional information are available on PEC’s Nomination by Petition webpage. Applicants may access the forms and materials online, download them, and fill them out at their convenience. These materials include qualification requirements, detailed instructions, an application, maps of PEC board districts, and forms for submitting background information and collecting member signatures. Fully completed original
petition materials must be received by, or hand-delivered to, the Governance Team at the PEC Headquarters in Johnson City by 5 p.m. March 28. PEC members seeking nomination for PEC director positions must: - Maintain a primary residence in the PEC board district in which they seek election and receive continuous electric service for at least one year. See Article III of the PEC bylaws for complete qualifications. - Obtain verifiable signatures from 50 PEC members who live within the nominee’s voting district or have a designated voting residence within that district. Completed petition materials must be received by, or
hand-delivered to, the Governance Team at PEC Headquarters, 201 S. Avenue F, Johnson City, Texas 78636, no later than March 28 at 5 p.m. A qualifications review committee comprised of PEC members will verify nominees’ qualifications. After petition signatures and nominees’ qualifications are verified, PEC will announce the qualified director candidates. Find nomination materials on the Nomination by Petition page, and keep up with PEC election news at our Election HQ. Interested members may also request nomination materials by calling 888-554-4732, emailing election@peci.com, or visiting any PEC district office.
Shin Oak Ridge Bulletin Board Send news to: News@LHIndependent.com
Chisholm Trail Quilt Guild meets Feb. 1
The next meeting of the Chisholm Trail Quilts Guild will be Feb. 1 via zoom; starting at 10 a.m. Lisa Erlandson of lequilts.com will present “Star Light, Star Bright, Stars Upon My Bed Tonight”. Stars grace some of our oldest quilts in either quilting, piecing or appliqué. This trunk show takes us across time to see how our expression of stars in quilts has changed in the last 200 years - or has it? Contact president@ctquilt-
guild.org if you would like to be a visitor. For more information, visit our website.
Liberty Hill Garden Club meets Feb. 8
The Feb. 8th Club program welcomes Maryann Melton, Good Water Master Naturalist: “How to recycle, reuse garden objects, garden litter, garden wastes to utilize everything in the garden for the garden.” Meetings are in-person at the Cowboy Church; 9:30 a.m. social, 10 a.m. meeting. Visit the website for more in-
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Highland Lakes Garden Club meets Feb. 10
Highland Lakes Garden Club invites you to a free gardening talk by Glenda Williams on “African Violets 101: Love and Care” on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. at the Marble Falls Library Community Room, 101 Main Street.
Complete local news and sports coverage LHINDEPENDENT.COM
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Page 4
LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
EDC putting out requests for proposals
By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer The Economic Development Corporation is in the process of submitting several requests for proposals for everything from an updated strategic plan to hiring an accounting firm. At their most recent meeting on Jan. 19, the Board unanimously voted to allow EDC Director Matt Powell to submit a request for proposal (RFP) for a three- to five-year strategic plan for the EDC. The RFP will be on the City’s website, but Powell also plans to be proactive by identifying no fewer than 10 firms that do this sort of work to proactively send them the RFP as well. “The reason I’ve selected such a large amount is I don’t want anyone to worry about favoritism,” he said. “We’ll see what kind of responses we get. I’m excited about it. This will give us a lot more direction and help us fulfill our mission and vision statements by giving us a much more specific action plan. It will help us clarify a
MALTED
Continued from Page 1
the venue. “Probably for the next five years or so, our goal is to work as we save up for that venue,” Biggs said. “I would like to keep working in the food industry, maybe as a restaurant consultant. So many things are not solid yet, but what I can say is I’ll stay busy doing something.”
POLICE
lot of our direction.” The board also discussed putting out an RFP for updated demographic information on the City of Liberty Hill. The one the City currently has is about three years old, which is essentially outdated at this point, Powell said. Businesses wanting to move in are asking for this information, which is why Powell wants it to be updated. He said he will move forward with putting together an RFP and will bring it back to the Board at a future meeting. The Board discussed a third RFP, which would be for hiring an accounting firm to help the EDC set up its own bank accounts. “The direction that [the City] is asking us to go is to start up our own bank account reports,” said Treasurer Eric Bailey. Board President John Clark said by doing this, the EDC will be able to use it as a data tool. “Having our own accounts
The final night Malted Grains will be open is Saturday, Jan. 29, when Biggs and Day will host a goodbye party for the community starting at 6 p.m. Food and drinks will be served, and the future owners of the restaurant will be there to introduce themselves to attendees. Donations for the couple’s road trip “gas fund”
Thursday, January 27, 2022
WHAT’S NEW
Continued from Page 1 9,000 postal customers! While print advertising rates will be slightly higher because inflation has touched every business, including ours, we are able to offer advertisers increased opportunities to reach customers at rates reflective of our cost savings. For the first 60 days, access to our online content will be free to readers. And by subscribing to our free email newsletter, you will receive all of the local news of the day directly in your inbox. We want you to enjoy the tools available to you as we report the news of our community. However, after a pe-
riod of time, users will notice a slight charge for access to help defray a small portion of the costs of reporting the news. Current print subscribers will receive more information in the days ahead. We value the relationship we’ve had with readers and advertisers through the years, and look forward to taking the next step to improve local journalism by reporting the news of our community in a way you have come to trust. For more information about advertising or subscriptions, contact us at (512) 778-5577 or send email to News@ LHIndependent.com.
will give us an analyzing tool of knowing if we are having success by supporting businesses, or where we are falling short because we will have quick access to those numbers,” he said. Powell said he would work on this RFP as well to bring to a future meeting. Also at the meeting: - Sales tax was up January over January by 53.1 percent, which is a new all-time monthly record. The total collected was $273,151. - The Board discussed updating their annual budget now that the City’s 2020 audit is complete. A three-member subcommittee was appointed to work on the budget and bring it for discussion at a future meeting. - The Board voted to remove former EDC Director Lance Dean and former EDC President John Johnston from its savings account at Classic Bank. - Tasked Powell with investigating what it takes to start do-
ing TexPool investing, which is the largest and oldest local government investment pool in Texas, and bring that back to the Board with a formal proposal. - The Board appointed a subcommittee to work with City Council on updating the EDC’s incentive programs, which have been a source of contention between the Council and EDC since mid-2021 when Powell initially began the updating process. Since then, the Council has voted to rescind all incentive programs except for the sign grant program and the Water Wise program. - Discussed a new state law that goes into effect in May that requires all cities and EDCs to report their 380 agreements to a public state database. Powell said he is working on uploading those agreements and they will be available publicly before then. The next regular meeting of the EDC is set for Feb. 16 at 5 p.m.
will also be accepted during the party. Biggs said for now, the new owners of the restaurant are set to take over in mid-February. They plan to operate under the name Whiskey Barrel Pub, according to a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission license to serve mixed beverages submitted in December. Biggs
added that the new owners are also training to become mixologists. As Biggs and Day move on from Liberty Hill, they will look back at their time at Malted Grains fondly. What started as an experiment to see if they could work together long term, Biggs said, turned into something much more than that.
“We love Liberty Hill,” Biggs said. “We listened to our customers. It was all about just being here and being involved. There are so many little things that weren’t on the menu that we’d stop and make for our customers. We tried to make this a true mom-andpop restaurant. We were here working every day. We got to
know our customers’ names, their dogs’ names, if their kids were sick—we loved being a part of the community. I hope that was conveyed over the years.” Follow the Liberty Hill Independent for information on the new restaurant and its owners in future weeks.
a nearly 2-year-old German shepherd—whose name was Fido at the time—ended up being the best fit for the position, and training began soon after he arrived in Liberty Hill. Besides helping to choose and train Evo for his new role as K9, Hamrick also worked with Officer Jason Wolf of the Liberty Hill Independent School District Police Department to come up with a les-
son plan for teaching students about K9s and what they do in their roles. Langham said Evo was the clear choice as the K9 for LHPD because he has a good drive for the job and a personality that is well suited to work with the community at outreach events. “Evo came here from Poland, trained here and will spend the rest of his life here,” he added.
Officer Esteban Gomez-Sanchez, who has been with the LHPD for a year, was chosen to be Evo’s handler and partner. He took an extensive three-week, 120-hour-long course where he learned multiple narcotic detection techniques, how to track, and how to teach Evo to be a better asset and tool when conducting police work. So far, he and Evo have bonded quickly, he said, and now it’s the norm for Evo to look for him whenever he comes out of his kennel. Outside of his job as LHPD’s K9, he will get to live with Gomez-Sanchez, his wife and three sons, who are all excited about him moving in. “We are working to get him used to everything, because it’s a big change for him to go from being in the academy and being in the kennel,” Gomez-Sanchez said. “It’s very regimented for them while they are there, and now he gets to go to work, and he is going to be living with me. Every time I get ready for work, he’s going to get ready for work. He’s going to put his uniform on, get in the car, and come to work with me.” In addition to working calls with Gomez-Sanchez, Evo will also have the opportunity be an ambassador for the community and be a part of big events, like the Fourth of July and Christmas festivals. “I’m just excited for this new role,” Gomez-Sanchez said. “I’m excited to use him and
see how we can better hep the community. It’s a huge asset having a dog.” Giachetti said while the bulk of her work is done, Hamrick still has to do a final report and video showing what she did for her project. Once that is submitted, she will receive her Gold Award. “She’s been working on this for two years, so it’s exciting to finally be here at the end of it all,’ she said. Hamrick said now that her job is essentially done, she is feeling fulfilled. “I’m so glad the police department was so accepting of my idea, and I feel like everything just came together,” she said. “It’s really fulfilling.” Hamrick will remain in Girl Scouts once she receives her Gold Award. She also plans on visiting Evo now and then to see how he’s doing. Langham said being a part of Hamrick’s journey has been rewarding. “She is giving back to the community at such a young age,” he said. “Watching her put all this together and seeing all the different moving pieces of doing the training and working with the City and the police department, that’s a lot of work. I’m super impressed with Jillian and just happy that we got to be a part of helping the community.”
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member of Troop 40101, learned how to train and handle a drug detector dog. She attended a 720-hour handler’s course at Pacesetter alongside law enforcement officers from across the country. During her training, she learned how to lead a dog to search a room and a car for narcotics and has learned several Czech commands. She also learned how to search an open field, how
to lead a dog to search for bombs, and what it’s like to be attacked by a K9. Last October, Hamrick and Gina Giachetti, her troop leader and mother, went with Langham to Poland to pick out a group of dogs that had good potential for working as a K9 for the LHPD. Langham supervised the trip and showed Hamrick what to look for when choosing a dog. Evo,
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LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, January 27, 2022 Page 5
800 wins and counting Panthers’ hoops coach has his ‘dream job’
ALEX RUBIO FILE PHOTO
Liberty Hill head coach Barry Boren is more mellow these days, but is still a fierce competitor.
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When Barry Boren became a basketball coach 43 years ago, he simply viewed it as an extension of his passion rather than a profession. Over four decades later, Liberty Hill’s veteran bench boss is still going strong and recently posted his 800th career victory in a 57-50 win over East View, an occasion that was marked by the unfurling of a congratulatory banner by his players on the court. However, way back at the beginning, Boren was simply thrilled to do what he loved every day when he went to work – getting paid for it was a bonus, although his father didn’t exactly see it that way, he said. “My dad was a blue-collar guy who worked in a cement factory,” said Boren. “He didn’t understand people could actually do what they love for a living, so he didn’t put a lot of stock in what I did. He would always want to know when I was going to get a real job.” Early on is his coaching career – along with being a young family man – Boren sought out ways to earn extra money by working at basketball camps in the summer, with one eye always on the prize of moving up the coaching ranks. “I just wanted to get better as a coach,” he said. Finally, in 2000, Boren landed the head coach position at
Fossil Ridge High School in Keller, a suburb of his hometown of Ft. Worth – a Class 6A program he guided for three seasons. “I thought I had my dream job,” said Boren. “I got to move back close to home and everything.” But, Boren’s brief stint at Fossil Ridge ended up being more like a nightmare, as he won a combined 25 games in three seasons in charge. At that point, Boren needed to take a step back before he could once again move forward, he said. “I knew being at a big school wasn’t something I wanted to do for a long time,” said Boren. “I wanted to go to a small-town school where I could coach my son and be directly involved with him every day.” Indeed, Boren’s son, Blake, would play for his father all four years of high school and has been a Panthers assistant coach for the past eight years. Boren said he was first introduced to Liberty Hill all the way back in 1987, when he saw them play at the state tournament and was immediately enamored with the culture the Purple-and-Gold and its legion of supporters displayed. “I just thought to myself at the time how great it would be to coach a team like that some day,” he said. “I was just so impressed with the team and its followers.”
Fast-forward to 2002 and Boren was granted his wish in becoming Liberty Hill head coach and following a losing record in his first season on the sidelines, he’s posted winning records in each of the last 18 seasons entering this year, his 20th with the Panthers. Included was a memorable run all the way to the Class 4A state championship game in the 2018-19 season, which Boren calls the most iconic moment of his career. Last season, Liberty Hill moved up to Class 5A for the first time in school history, which presented an entirely new and different challenge for Boren, but it was one he handled in customary fashion – head-on and successfully – as the Panthers’ streak of consecutive playoff appearances remained intact despite the higher classification. After all these years, Boren said the most profound change for him is one that comes from within. “I think the biggest difference for me is now I’m more mellow,” he said. “I remember one time way back at the beginning, I was mad at a kid and took his clothes and put them in a paper bag outside the locker room.” Boren is an English teacher by trade, but these days heads up physical education classes, where he gets the opportunity
Swarming, smothering shutdown
Lady Panthers dominate on defense
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor After last season’s disappointing campaign during which his team failed to qualify for the playoffs during its maiden voyage as a Class 5A club, Liberty Hill head coach Chris Lange knew he needed to make strategic changes to be competitive at the higher classification. This was especially true at the defensive end of the court, as far too many times the Lady Panthers were overwhelmed by bigger, faster and stronger opponents they were facing compared to the program’s previous success at the Class 4A level. What Lange and his coaches concocted was a swarming, pressure defense that doesn’t allow even the most high-powered offenses time to breathe as they attempt to attack the Liberty Hill basket and the results have been remarkable. The Lady Panthers are averaging giving up only 31.4 points per game in district play this season. In comparison, league rivals and defending state champion Cedar Park is allowing 30.3 per contest – a difference of only 10 fewer points in the opening nine games of the district schedule. Of course, the big difference lies at the offensive end, where the Lady Panthers score a relatively paltry 40.4 points per
ALEX RUBIO FILE PHOTO
Liberty Hill has used dominant defense to shut down opponents this season in putting itself in position to qualify for the playoffs. game compared to the Timberwolves’ gaudy 66.7-point average. However, the results have been winning ones for Liberty Hill, which entered the week in third place in the district standings with a 6-3 record and now has an inside track to claiming a playoff berth after missing out on the postseason last year. According to Lange, the metamorphosis is the result of
each and every player on his roster pulling on the proverbial rope in the same direction and with the same purpose. “All of our girls have bought into how we play defense,” said Lange. “They’re all tough-minded kids.” At the heart of the renaissance are senior guards Regan and Madison Walker, along with fellow seniors Kenzy Wise, Alexa Solis and Ashlyn Calhoun – who have formed a
foundation for their teammates to follow. “We’ve found out this is what works for us and if we stick to what we do, we have a chance to win,” said Lange. “You can see how we play against the better teams.” Case in point the first meeting of the current campaign against No. 1-ranked Cedar Park, in which the Lady Panthers allowed only 58 points to be poured in by the high-flying
Timberwolves, followed by a 31-point defensive performance against No. 10 Georgetown. Unfortunately, Liberty Hill was defeated in both contests, but the fact they were still even in both games was a testament to the stonewall defending Lange’s players give him every time out of the gate, which ultimately gives them a chance to beat anyone at anytime. But, it certainly wasn’t an
See BOREN, Page 7
overnight process to get his players to clamp down on defense as they never had before. In fact, when the new system debuted in the fall league, initial results were far from pretty, said Lange. “The first game we used it, we gave up 12 3-pointers,” he said. “We didn’t handle what the other team was doing with high screens and pick-and-roll plays.” Instead of going back to the drawing board, though, Lange doubled down on the fact his players would properly digest the new scheme and was rewarded in rapid fashion. “The very next game there was a dramatic change,” he said. “Our girls bought in.” The lack of offense is the reason it’s so critical for the Lady Panthers to be on point defensively game-in, game-out, as they’re not the kind of team who outscores opponents – although that’s nothing new, said Lange. “We’ve struggled to score the past couple of years,” he said. “But, especially now in 5A, we knew our defense needed to be better for us to stay in games because other teams were going to try and beat us with their bigs (post players).” At this time last year, Lange knew his team was going to have to put together a somewhat unrealistic run to make the playoffs, but this season is a different story altogether, he said. “We already have 21 wins and chance at the playoffs,” said Lange. “Which is all you can ask for.”
Hubbard leads Lady Panthers to win over Rouse
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Emma Hubbard has been playing inspired basketball as of late, as she and her Lady Panthers push for a playoff spot in the second half of the district schedule and that trend continued on Friday night, as the senior center scored a game-high 14 points in Liberty Hill’s 43-21 home victory over Rouse. However, it was once again the smothering defense the Lady Panthers employ that kept them in control of the contest from the outset, as they held the Raiders to single-digit scoring in three of the four quarters, including only two points in the first and third periods.
Head coach Chris Lange said his team is now thriving on the fact it’s making it so difficult for opposing offenses to get anything going against them. “We’re about our defense,” said Lange. “Look at the points teams are scoring against us – it’s our defense that has kept us in games. It’s who we are as a team and we know who we are – our identity is easy to see.” As the game got underway, both sides had trouble finding the bottom of the net, though, as only three baskets were sunk combined and the Lady Panthers led after one, 4-2, on buckets by Hubbard and Kenzy Wise. The second quarter took on more of an offensive tone.
Rouse’s Taniya Shorter hit a 3-pointer to give the Raiders a 5-4 advantage, but that was the last lead the visitors would enjoy on this night. Hubbard answered with a three of her own to wrest the lead back, before back-toback buckets by Evie Bruce and Gabby Mundy preceded consecutive scores from Ashlyn Calhoun, the first of which was a a 3-pointer and Liberty Hill led, 18-13, at halftime. Hubbard began the third period with a basket-andone and added another score later in the stanza, along with a Madison Walker three and the Purple-and-Gold were up, 27-15, entering the final eight minutes. A 12-0 run bridging the
third and fourth quarters put the game out of reach for Rouse, a sequence that included Calhoun’s second 3-pointer of the evening, before senior Alexa Solis nailed a three to secure the win. In addition to Hubbard’s 14 points to lead all scorers, Calhoun scored eight and Walker six. Abby Boughman led Rouse with 10 points in defeat. The victory moved the Lady Panthers further up the district standings in third place behind Cedar Park and Georgetown with a gap beginning to grow between Liberty Hill and their pursuers with five games left in
ALEX RUBIO FILE PHOTO
See LADIES, Page 7 Kenzy Wise (#14) drives past a Rouse defender last week.
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LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Thursday, January 27, 2022
ALEX RUBIO PHOTO
Senior Emma Stephens (#8) is at the center of the Lady Panthers’ attack, scoring goals and providing assists for teammates.
Running the engine room Senior midfielder relied on to score, assist
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When Emma Stephens has the ball at her feet in the heart of the Liberty Hill midfield, the senior is like a symphony orchestra conductor, only instead of directing musicians with a baton, she quickly sizes up the situation and either smoothly slides the ball to an open teammate or unleashes a shot on goal herself. Either way, the result is sweet music that comes in the form of goals and assists filling up the stat sheet and more times than not the final act of her performance results in a Lady Panthers victory. Stephens is a four-year varsity player for Liberty Hill and hasn’t failed to deliver the goods since first pulling on a Purple-and-Gold kit three years ago, scoring 13, 38 and 14 goals, respectively, in her first three campaigns. However, along with the goals, Stephens has also piled up double-digit assists, notching 13, 14 and 16 in that category and is now looking to make her senior season one to remember as she and her teammates look to defend their district title of year ago. Stephens will certainly have a lot to say in that conversation
and with her role in the middle of the park, she knows she must be multidimensional in her approach. “I feel like I’m supposed to find the open areas, be able to create chances and make runs forward,” said Stephens. “But, I’ve also been a scorer over the years, so there’s pressure to live up to how I’ve played in the past.” Head coach Darren Bauer said Stephens has evolved from being just another talented player to one that can be counted on as a lynch pin. “Back when she was a freshman and sophomore, we didn’t need Emma to be a provider because we already had older players who could do that,” he said. “But, now she’s focused more on that and likes being a playmaker.” Along those lines, Bauer pointed out what makes Stephens such a constant threat to opposing defenses is her uncanny knack of seeing the field and quickly making the right decision. “She’s really good at taking what the other team gives her, which is what makes her so deadly,” he said. “There’s really no good way to defend her – she’s become the player we always knew she could be.”
However, something happened along the way that has changed the path many players of her caliber are on at this stage of their careers – that is, choosing a college to play for. Stephens recently left her club team to focus solely on her efforts with the Lady Panthers and doesn’t plan to pursue her playing days beyond graduation – a decision she said she made based on her level of frustration with certain aspects of club soccer – not the least of which was a lack of playing time despite being one of the top players on her team. “It seemed to me like the coaches there were more concerned with the girls that were already committed (to college programs),” said Stephens. “I just couldn’t do it anymore – I felt like I was living somebody else’s dreams.” As a result, Stephens is more determined than ever to make her final season of competitive soccer the best it can possibly be after having left behind the worries she previously had. “At first, I was just really angry about what happened,” she said. “But, now I’m having fun again and just want to enjoy this year.”
Panthers back on pitch patrol
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Now that we’ve settled into the new year, with the flip of the calendar comes another season of Liberty Hill soccer, with both the Panthers’ girls and boys embarking on their respect district schedules. So, without further ado, let’s have a look at both squads and reflect on each one’s prospects. Ladies first. Last season, the Lady Panthers made the transition to Class 5A competition with aplomb, winning a district championship and advancing to the third round of the state playoffs in the process. In fact, Liberty Hill lost only four games all season – with two of the defeats at the hands of the same side in Dripping Springs, who provided bookend losses in the first and last contests of the campaign. However, that team was loaded with senior experience, including six starters, so head coach Darren Bauer has had to go back to the drawing board by integrating new faces into the squad and so far the results have been what one would expect from a program that never rebuilds, but simply reloads. In other words, promising. At the heart of the operation is senior midfielder Emma Stephens, who is the puppetmaster in the middle of the park in orchestrating the Lady Panthers’ attack with her combination of scoring and assisting. At the tip of the spear is junior forward Kaylie Fowler, who can’t seem to stop scoring goals since first arriving on the scene as a freshman two years ago. Already this term, the speedy, silky-smooth striker has hit double-digits in goals after
seasons of 26 and 23, respectively, in her first two years. As the Stephens-Fowler pipeline goes, so will go the Lady Panthers. But, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other bullets in the gun. Sophomore Neeley Giessinger already had six goals entering last weekend, one more than she scored all last season in 21 games, while fellow second-year midfielder Carson Glenn has also increased her scoring output with three goals this season compared to two last year. The defense is led by senior Alyssa Lee and includes Katie Wilson, Cordelia Brown and Kelsey Castillo in front of freshman goalkeeper Brooklyn Escobar, who has won the No. 1 pair of gloves between the sticks. One thing we’ve come to expect from Bauer is a welldrilled, organized side regardless of what names are in the lineup, featuring a possession-based game that sucks the life and energy out of opponents until scoring chances present themselves. This season will be no exception, although Cedar Park, Georgetown and Rouse will provide stiff competition and if last season’s stretch run was any indication, there should be plenty of drama unfolding as the Lady Panthers attempt to better their effort of last season and eventually lift a trophy at the state championships. As far as the Panthers boys are concerned, rookie head coach Feliz Esparza has inherited a talent roster and is looking to get his club back to the postseason following a disappointing campaign that saw Liberty Hill fail to qualify for the playoffs. So far, the results have been quite promising as the Panthers enter district play with a winning record and look poised to have a run at a berth
at the state dance in a few months time. Senior Kegan Taggart will be expected to provide goals up front and the senior striker is already off to a flyer, with six goals in six games out of the gate, while Jett Byars, Dhar Ramsingh, Jeremiah Doyen and Andrew Marshall have also shown a scoring touch early on. Seniors Hayden Ehrsam, Sean Snelgrooes and Garrison Clopton will anchor the midfield, with sophomore winger Caden Glenn providing width in the attack down the flanks. In goal, freshman Luke Phillips has claimed the starting spot in front of defenders Marcelo Bravo and senior Greg Miller, who will provide the last line of resistance in front of their rookie netminder. The district schedule will be rugged as there are no apparent weak squads as one peruses the standings – early returns suggest East View, Rouse and Georgetown will present the greatest threat, but as a young, relatively inexperienced side, the Panthers can’t afford to take anyone they step on the field against lightly. Esparza is the wild card – a rookie head coach that will be at the controls for the first time, so we’ll see how he reacts to the pressures of his new position. However, he seems to have his players on the same page to this point, exuding a purpose on the field, something that was sorely lacking last season when the Panthers struggled to find an identity. There’s no reason to not believe Liberty Hill can claim a playoff spot this season if the Panthers all pull on the rope and buy into what their new coach is selling. We’ll see how everything plays out on the pitch once the ball gets rolling.
ALEX RUBIO PHOTO
Freshman goalkeeper Luke Phillips (25) has already shown he’s capable of making acrobatic saves in keeping the ball out of the Liberty Hill net and has posted three shutouts this season.
Covering the corners
Freshman keeper establishes net presence
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When Luke Phillips was 12 and struggling to find an identity on his youth soccer team as an outfield player, his coach at the time had an idea that would forever alter the course of his career. “I was the worst player on the team,” said Phillips. “So, my coach told me to go play goal.” Phillips hasn’t scored a single goal since that fateful day, but he’s certainly prevented countless opposing shots from billowing the back of his own net since first donning the gloves and has burst onto the Purple-and-Gold scene this season in establishing himself as the Panthers No. 1 goalkeeper despite his status as a freshman. Phillips said as a netminder, he feels more engaged and involved as the action unfolds before him with the entire field constantly in his field of vision. “Ever since I’ve played goal, I’ve felt a lot more useful,” he said. “Especially making big plays like blocking wideopen shots. I like it a lot because I get a lot more action.” Modern-day goalkeepers are expected to do much more than just use their hands to keep the ball out of the net, though, as many between the sticks have become quite adept at playing the ball with their feet in making hockey-style kick saves and distributing the ball out of the back, acting like an extra defender or “sweeper keeper,” as they’re known. Phillips embraces this is a part of his job description. “You see the goalkeepers who are playing at the high-
er levels and they can all play the ball with their feet,” he said. “You can have a lot bigger impact on the game by playing that way.” As he’s only been playing the position for a couple years now, Phillips is still a relative neophyte in learning the nuances and myriad intricacies of the place on the pitch he calls home. However, Liberty Hill head coach Felix Esparza said he’s constantly working to further hone his craft. It’s good to have somebody like Luke who really wants it and is so willing to work hard,” said Esparza, who is in his first season as Panthers bench boss. “He’s physical, intelligent and a big kid and it really matters to him to be the best he can be – he’s definitely ready to play varsity soccer.” Many times goalkeepers find themselves on an island of inactivity when the run of play is mainly in the attacking end of the pitch, but in the blink of an eye can be called upon to make a save on a quick counterattack by the opposition. At times such as those, Phillips said the ability to remain on point mentally is critical in maintaining proper readiness for when the tide turns and he suddenly finds himself faced with strikers bearing down with intentions of putting the ball behind him. “As a goalkeeper in situations like that, you just have to stay focused and make sure you don’t zone out,” he said. “Part of that is constantly communicating with my defenders.” Weather also plays a role in Phillips’ ability to perform at an optimum level with cold causing a conundrum when
it comes to keeping the juices flowing when the wind is blowing. “When the ball is on the other side of the field, I’ll shuffle back and forth to stay warm,” he said. One of the biggest decisions a goalkeeper can be faced with is the split-second choice of whether or not to come off his line when an attacking player breaks in on goal alone, as hesitation for even a millisecond can result in being marooned in the noman’s land of being caught in two minds. Many an ugly collision has occurred between scorer and stopper in such situations and Phillips is certainly not exempt from having had his fair share of bumps and bruises from such encounters, he said. “There was one time when I went up for a shot and someone hit me low and spun me around,” said Phillips. “I hit my head on the ground and had a concussion.” Phillips said the decision he makes is based on a couple different factors. “It will depend on the speed of the ball and how fast the forward is,” he said. Phillips has already posted three shutouts in goal for the Panthers this season, including a clean sheet in a 3-0 away victory over Steele in which he made five saves. All in all, not bad for a kid who found himself without a position to play only a few years ago, but has now settled in quite nicely where his new team needs him most. “At first, I was kind of nervous about playing goal,” said Phillips. “But, now I really love it.”
SHANNON HOFMANN PHOTO
Liberty Hill’s Neeley Giessinger (#7) is currently second on the squad with eight goals on the season.
GIRLS SOCCER BRIEFS Lady Panthers open district with 2-0 win over East View Neeley Giessinger scored in the 25th minute, followed by Chloe Ludwick in the 30th, as Liberty Hill prevailed in its district opener by a 2-0 score over East View. Emma Stephens picked up an assist in the victory. Liberty Hill (8-1-1, 1-0) will next host Rouse on Friday night. Two wins in three at tourney Last weekend, Liberty Hill traveled to Georgetown for the Governor’s Cup and came home with two wins in three games.
On Thursday, the Lady Panthers faced Class 5A McAllen and were victorious by a score of 4-0. Kaylie Fowler scored two goals and added an assist, while Emma Stephens and Neely Giessinger added goals in the win with Carson Glenn also picking up an assist. Brooklyn Escobar and Keira Garcia combined for the clean sheet in goal, making three saves in all. Friday saw Liberty Hill take on Class 6A Keller, a Dallas-area school and played to a 1-1 draw. Glenn scored the lone Liber-
ty Hill goal, with Giessinger getting a helper on the second-half strike. Finally on Saturday, the Purple-and-Gold put five past Hendrickson in a 5-0 win, highlighted by Fowler’s two goals and one assist, along with goals from Giessinger, Glenn – who also chalked up a pair of assists – and Kelsey Castillo. Stephens and Kassidy Contreras were each credited with an assist, while Escobar and Garcia each played a half for the combined shutout, making four saves.
Thursday, January 27, 2022
LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Page 7
Panthers fall short against Raiders, 65-59
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Only one team could walk out of the gym a first-place basketball team on Friday night when Rouse came calling on Liberty Hill and it was the Raiders who turned the trick with a 6559 victory over the Panthers. Senior Walker Weems led Liberty Hill with 19 points, while Gunter Daniels added 16, but it was the home side that came up just short in a hotly-contested affair that stretched both teams to their respective limits. Head coach Barry Boren regretted the fact his team failed to play as aggressively at the outset of the contest as he would’ve liked. “We were tentative early,” he said. “We fumbled the ball around and didn’t execute our offense properly.” In fact, the Panthers were held to a rare single-digit output in the opening quarter as a result of their pedestrian play and trailed the Raiders by a 14-9 margin after one. As the second period began, Weems scored his first two buckets of the evening, while fellow seniors RJ Sanchez and Anthony Sierras opened their accounts with a bucket apiece, but Liberty Hill failed to close the gap and still trailed at the half, 32-23, despite a Daniels
3-pointer at the buzzer. Following a halftime team talk, the Panthers emerged from the locker room with a renewed sense of purpose, one which was reflected in their play, as they began to do all the things they had failed to in the first half. For Boren, the difference was simple. “We just played harder,” he said. Cayden Branch hit a pair of shots to begin Liberty Hill’s second-half scoring and Weems really found his range from the field, hitting a variety of shots in and around the paint despite the defensive presence of Rouse’s 6-foot-3, 210-pound Amarie Haywood , who made life difficult inside for the Panthers all night. Weems finished with 10 points in the third period, which was punctuated from a Panthers point-of-view with a Zane Lauper and-one after the senior point guard had driven strong to the hoop only to score and be fouled in the process. But, every time the home side got to with a single possession on the scoreboard, the visitors would once again pull away and restore their lead and Rouse still led, 47-42, after three quarters. Lauper continued to lead the
Liberty Hill Middle School’s seventh-grade hoops squads played at Farley Middle School in Hutto on Monday and won both games against the Hippos. The Panthers’ A team had a close game until the fourth quarter, when the Panthers outscored Farley, 24-8, in a 52-35 victory.
Carter Maxwell scored a game-high 23 points for Liberty Hill, which improved to 10-1 on the season. Also scoring for the Panthers were Jacob McLeod (10 points), Grant Basey (10), Grant Ortiz (8) and Garrett Shillow (1). Liberty Hill’s B team won, 33-13 and moved to 11-0 on
MIDDLE SCHOOL BRIEFS
Panthers offense in gritty fashion, time and again driving the lane with authority and after the senior point guard hit a pair of free throws after one such occasion to begin the fourth, Weems and Branch scored consecutive baskets that finally pulled the Purple-and-Gold level, then gave them the lead at 49-47 with six minutes left in regulation. But, just like they had done all game long, Rouse ran off a 6-0 run to regain the lead and after Weems finished off his night with a three to pull the Panthers within 53-52, that was as close as they would get for the remainder of the proceedings. Lauper added nine points and Branch seven, but it was the Raiders who came away with sole possession of first place in the district standings with the win. ALEX RUBIO FILE PHOTO Liberty Hill (21-6, 5-2) will Anthony Sierras (#10) goes up for a shot in the Panthers’ district game against Rouse. next travel to Cedar Park on The contest was tied at 12-12 Sierras added 16 points and Tuesday, then return to host stretch.” LHHS 61, Cedar Park 40 after on quarter, but the visitors Daniels 12 in the win. Marble Falls on Jan. 28. Weems led Liberty Hill with took a 27-16 halftime lead and Liberty Hill (22-6, 6-2) will Boren said his team can ill afford to begin any more games 18 points in the Panthers’ 61- finished off the Timberwolves host Marble Falls on Friday 40 road win over Cedar Park with a 19-point outburst in the before playing at Leander on not firing on all cylinders. fourth period. Feb. 1. “We’ve got talented players,” on Tuesday night. he said. “But, what we can’t do is to allow ourselves to be Continued from Page 5 tentative and soft in the beginwe can’t win games,” he said. Panthers trail 18-0 after one ning. We answered that in the the regular season. Liberty Hill (21-10, 6-3) will “But, we have 13 girls here quarter and 32-3 at halftime, second half and had our chances, but didn’t execute down the next travel to Cedar Park on who have bought into and Liberty Hill was defeated by Tuesday before returning to trusted in how we play.” Cedar Park on Tuesday night host Marble Falls on Jan. 28. Liberty Hill (21-11, 6-4) will by a score of 50-25. Lange admitted his team’s next host Marble Falls on FriRegan Walker led the Lady the season. style of play might not be the day before playing at Leander Panthers with eight points, Cooper Hudnall led all scores most ascetically-pleasing, but on Feb. 1. while Wise added five in the with 18 points, while Jaythe results are currently speakloss. don Torress (4), Zane Conley ing for themselves. Cedar Park 50, LHHS 25 (3), Zane Ryan (2), Jeremiah “Without defense like this, In a game that saw the Lady Poldrack (2), Gabriel Graf (2) and Waylon Baty (2) also scored in the win. Continued from Page 5 “For me, it’s much bigger to combine both his passions – something that bothers him, in one – basketball and teach- he said. than the wins,” he said. “It’s “Nowadays, all parents have more about the congratulations ing. “Just the other day, we had to do is shell out money and I’ve gotten from so many difseveral games going on at one their kid plays,” he said. “I ferent people.” So, after thinking he had hit time during the period,” he don’t think it means as much said. “But, you can’t just do anymore for a kid to be part of the job jackpot over two dethat without there being a lead- a team that is bigger than him- cades ago, Boren has realized up to it, which is teaching the self.” that false dawn was simply a Aside from all the well-de- precursor to when his ideal ocgame.” With the proliferation of pay- served hoopla a milestone cupational vision would finally for-play club and select sports victory deserves, Boren said come to fruition. outside high school athletics, he truly gets more out of the “After 40 years, I finally have Boren said some of the lus- love he feels from others over my dream job,” he said. “Right ter of simply making a high- his accomplishments than the here in Liberty Hill.” school roster has been lost numbers.
LADIES
BOREN
PANTHER OF THE WEEK
All
ve. .
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ALEX RUBIO FILE PHOTO
Senior Alexa Solis (#22) has a rugged playing style that was honed as a middle-school football player.
Senior rewarded for work ethic
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Long after her teammates have left the building after practice, Alexa Solis remains on the court taking one shot after another until she’s finally had enough. But, not because she wants to stop. After walking down the corridor and disappearing around a corner, Solis reappears a few moments later with an ice pack on her right shoulder, an elixir for a muscle strain that has plagued the Liberty Hill senior guard since earlier this season when she and the Lady Panthers were playing at a tournament in Salado in November. In fact, Solis was so adamant about staying on the court, her injury was classified information for some time after it initially flared up, so as to not disrupt the run of form she was on, she said. “I had been working all summer to be able to play well and I was hitting all my shots and playing good defense,” said Solis. “I didn’t want it to be ruined by an injury.” However, her shoulder got worse and she was eventually forced to reveal it in order to get proper treatment and has since played through the pain after having initially taken a five-day respite from basketball activities before being cleared to continue on. According to Solis, she knew
she needed to come clean about her shoulder when it began affecting her performance on the court. “I was having to make adjustments to compensate for my shoulder, so my shots weren’t falling,” said Solis. “At that point, I felt like I couldn’t do what I had been working all summer to be able to.” Lady Panthers head coach Chris Lange said Solis is exactly the kind of player he wants involved with his program. “Alexa wants to be here and help the team,” he said. “She never wavers – she’ll stand and cheer from the bench and when she gets in there, she pays with intensity, so you want to reward her with minutes.” One such moment was during last week’s home win over Rouse, when Solis hit a 3-pointer late in the game to help seal a Liberty Hill victory – an occasion when Solis gets the gratification she seeks. But, before she took that quest to the basketball court, Solis played all manner of sports growing up, including soccer and softball, which was her primary game until she reached high school. As the only girl in a family with four brothers, Solis has no problem mixing it up physically, which is on display whenever she goes to the floor in pursuit of a loose ball or bangs bodies relentlessly while doggedly defending.
Turns out, Solis actually enjoys the physical side of things and was actually on her seventh-grade football team at Bastrop Middle School, where she played quarterback and safety, although she got much more from the defensive side of the ball, she said. “I just liked to tackle,” said Solis. “I had four brothers, so I had been doing it all my life.” Solis said her favorite subject is science and plans on pursuing a career in pharmacology. “It’s interesting to see what different medicines do to the human body,” she said. “Besides, I couldn’t be a doctor or nurse because I don’t like blood.” One of Solis’ favorite activities is to get away from it all with her family on vacations that usually include a healthy dose of the outdoors. “I like going places where there’s no cell service, so we all have to talk to one another,” said Solis. “One time, we went to Utah to visit my grandma and went to Flaming Gorge – it was awesome.” Despite her rugged playing style and the image it projects, though, Solis said there is another side of her to be seen once getting to know her. “I don’t like to get messed with and I can stand up for myself,” she said. “But, although I’m tough on the outside, I’m a softy on the inside.”
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Liberty Hill & Surrounding Communities
HOMES AROUND THE HILL Homes for Sale
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