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Happy Thanksgiving Volume 34, Issue 1

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2020

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November 26, 2020 | 50 Cents

A community feast

Neighbors share recipes, tips for Thanksgiving

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Sandwiched between Halloween and Christmas, November is a month filled with the hustle and bustle of shopping and decorating for the season.

Stuffed in the middle is the holiday focused on the gathering of friends and family –

Thanksgiving.

At the center of the holiday is the Thanksgiving dinner or lunch in many cases. Every spread is different and unique to each family. This year Liberty Hill residents are sharing some of their favorite recipes with the community.

Julie Dupree shared a South-

How to Cook that Turkey Smoked Turkey

For smoked turkey, create a brine that includes whole peppercorns, bay leaves, and creative ingredients like orange peels. The brine can be adjusted based on the flavors you prefer. Let the turkey sit in the brine overnight. Season with Kosher salt.

The time cooked depends on the size of the turkey. The best estimate is 15 minutes per pound. Smoke Turkey over indirect heat until the internal temperature reached 165 degrees. Higher temperature will allow the skin to crisp up.

Try not to go past 165 degrees, or the turkey can become dry.

– Agape Barbecue

Traditional Turkey

For traditional Turkey, a simple brine is called for. A gallon of water, one half to three-quarters of a cup of kosher salt, and a half to three-quarters cup of white sugar. The brine can be adjusted based on preferred flavors. Let the turkey sit in the brine from 12 to 24 hours.

For the seasoning of Turkey, take some room temperature butter and add chopped up rosemary, black pepper, a pinch of salt (there is salt in the brine), thyme, and sage. Take the seasoned butter mixture and rub it under the skin of the turkey. To get under the skin, work your hand gently between the breast and skin to not tear the skin.

To add additional flavor, throw in some of the left-over butter into the cavity of the turkey along with onions, carrots, and celery. In the roasting pan, throw in some more onions, carrots, and celery. Then season the top of the turkey with simple spices like garlic, salt, and pepper. Tuck the wings behind and then cover the turkey with foil and roast at 325. After an hour and a half, remove the foil and raise the heat up to 350 and finish the turkey until the internal temperature is 165.

– Malted Grains

Fried Turkey

Heat three and a half gallon of peanut oil in a large pot or turkey fryer up to 350 degrees. When frying a turkey make sure to set up the equipment outdoors and on dirt or cement pavement and away from pavements to avoid any potential fires. Keep a fire extinguisher close by.

Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and dried. Rub with salt and pepper (Or other preferred spices). Place the seasoned turkey in a drain basket neck-side first. Slowly and gently lower the turkey in the basket into the hot oil until the turkey is completely submerged. Cook the turkey for 3 and a half minutes per pound or about 35 minutes for a ten lbs turkey.

– Anthony Flores

ern Spoon Bread Soufflé. For Dupree and her family, it’s a staple of the holiday passed down from her mother BJ Norman.

“She put that recipe in the church cookbook eons ago, and it was a carryover from her grandmother,” said Dupree.

“I’ve never heard nor had it outside of our family. I can only surmise it’s an old recipe that just got lost by the wayside over the years.”

Dupree also shared the recipe for her pirate punch, a cocktail to help cope with the more stressful moments with the family.

“It’s an easy cocktail that everyone loves and smooths over any dining mishaps that may arise. At least you likely won’t care about a glass or two in,” said Dupree.

Itzel Rios, Liberty Hill’s own Rachel Ray with her YouTube cooking channel, created a reinterpretation of her mother’s potato soup.

“It takes me back to my mom’s cooking. We come from a big family, so having food on the table was hard at times,” said Rios. “My mom would do wonders with the little food that she had. Potatoes are not that expensive and can be used in so many different ways. This soup is reinvented from what

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Julie Dupree shares a family recipe, Southern Spoon Bread Soufflé, a traditional dish at her family’s Thanksgiving table. my mom used to do for us. The richness and flavors remind me so much of her.”

Donna Leonard has come a $48.91 long way in her relationship Average price of a 10-person Thanksgiving dinner with yams that was not always in the United States in 2019 so full of love. The Yummy 229,000 Yams dish shared with her sits Total number of turkeys produced in the at the center of her change of United States in 2019 heart.

4,500 “As a kid, my mother would Average calories consumed per person make the old-fashioned yams on Thanksgiving with the melted marshmallows 63 on top,” said Leonard. “My Percent of Americans expect to drink wine three brothers and I would just with Thanksgiving dinner stare at it thinking how gross it was. Then, my dear friend Gina – WalletHub.com

See THANKSGIVING, Page 4

Parsons new pick to lead LHISD Board

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor Like those before her, Megan Parsons will put her own stamp on the LHISD Board, but as the newly-elected President she hopes to carry on what she sees as a great tradition before her.

The new position was not something the first-term Board member imagined would be happening now.

“I definitely didn’t expect this,” Parsons said. “It’s not that I never thought I might be president of the board, I just didn’t

expect it to happen right now.

It’s definitely been a change, and I am ready to embrace it and do the best I can.”

The confidence of the other board members made it easy for her to embrace the opportunity.

“I had some support from others to do it,” she said. “It wasn’t something I aggressively went after, it was just something I had support for and something people said I should consider, so I was very willing to take it on. I am excited to have the opportunity to serve as president

on this board and I hope to do as good as anybody before me and uphold that tradition.”

That tradition – which Parsons has experienced first-hand since she was elected in May 2019 – gave her the chance to work with two board presidents she said she thinks very highly of.

“Both Clay Cole and Clint Stephenson are men that I highly respect and I will continue to go to them for advice or thoughts

See PARSONS, Page 5

MEGAN PARSONS LHISD Board President

BUSINESS

HOLIDAY PUBLICATION SCHEDULE The Liberty Hill Independent office will be closed Nov. 2427 for the Thanksgiving holiday. While dated Nov. 26, this week’s edition is being published on Tuesday so that our staff may enjoy the holiday.

The deadline for the Dec. 24 edition is 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18 as our print schedule is once again adjusted for the Christmas holidays. The office will be closed Dec. 22-25, and will open again Dec. 28 following the regular publication schedule. ©2020 The Liberty Hill Independent

Commercial development is steady across Liberty Hill

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer One industry that has continued to remain steady over the last several months is the commercial development industry—especially in Liberty Hill, where new projects are beginning often, and new businesses are moving in quickly.

At Highway 29 Office Park, located at 14001 SH 29, occupancy has hit 70 percent, said Ryan Perry, vice president and broker with Asterra.

“We started at zero occupancy a year and a half ago and have now signed our eighth lease,” he added.

The office park’s current tenant list includes Islet and Goertz, Homebuilders; Elite

Construction: Roofing and Construction; Erica Thomas with Vita Nova Counseling, PLLC; Hill Country Pharmacare; Denis Silva and Sons Insurance; Jenna Fleming Counseling, PLLC; Parasec/ Paracorp Business Consulting; and Randolph Texas, Development and Homebuilding.

The Austin Regional Clinic (ARC), at 12779 SH 29 West, is currently bidding for a general contractor and should begin interior finish out in January 2021. The exterior of the building and parking lot are both near completion.

“We anticipate opening in late spring and look forward

See BUSINESS, Page 5

McCoy’s Building Supply is one of several new commercial developments in Liberty Hill. The store is scheduled to open in May 2021. It is located at the corner of SH 29 and RM 1869.

(Courtesy Photo)

Page 2

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Area events promise safe opportunities to celebrate the season while socially distant

Nov. 27-Dec. 20 “A Tuna Christmas” The Georgetown Palace, Georgetown “A Tuna Christmas” is a broad comedy set in the fictional town of Tuna, Texas. The plot centers on the town’s annual Christmas Yard Display Contest, won 14 times in a row by Vera Carp. A mysterious “Christmas Phantom,” known for vandalizing the yard displays, has the contestants on edge.

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Nov. 29 Lighting of the Georgetown Square 5:30 p.m.

Georgetown Square, Georgetown Join Georgetown Mayor Dale Ross and Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell as they help Santa countdown and flip the switch on thousands of lights across the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas. Sing

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along with the Austin Carolers, Dec. 5 and get your picture taken with Old Town Christmas Festival 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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Old Town Leander, Leander Dec. 3 Every first Saturday of DeA Very Messy Night cember: Old Town Leander with Yesenia McNett comes alive to spread Christmas joy throughout the com7:30 p.m. munity. This event includes the The Georgetown Palace, Georgetown Old Town Rudolph Run 5K, Palace favorite, Yesenia Mc- local vendor shopping from Nett, is returning to the Spring- 12-4, and a drive thru parade er Stage for a night of musical at night. entertainment. Yesenia will sing a variety of holiday and Dec. 6 non-holiday favorites to kick For King and Country off the holiday season.

Show 1: 5 p.m.

Adult: $24 Show 2: 8:30 p.m.

Students: $22 H-E-B Center, Cedar Park Load up your truck. Bring Senior (55+): $22 Student Rush Ticket with ID: your coolers and grills. There’s $20 space for your car and your social distanced tailgate party!

The H-E-B Center Tailgate Series continues when for King & Country takes the stage as part of “A Drummer Boy Drive-In LIVE” The Christmas Tour, for 2 shows on December 6th in the North parking lots of H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. $99-$350 Per Car

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H-E-B Center, Cedar Park Bianca Del Rio hates Christmas and intends to destroy it,

See EVENTS, Page 5

Thursday 11/26

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OPINION Throwback Thursday

Remembering James ‘Pinky’ Wilson

By JAMES WEAR Columnist Back when I was a bit y o u n g e r, Thanksgiving revolved around a bit more than turkey and dressing and all the ďŹ xins‌it was often the day we’d gather around the old black and white television and watch the Longhorns and Aggies battle it out on the gridiron for bragging rights.

All of that would come to an end, of course. The Southwest Conference would fold and Texas would wind up playing in the Big 12 Conference while Texas A&M joined the Southeastern Conference and the rivalry would come to an end, although I’ve read that one member of the Texas Legislature actually attempted to pass a law requiring the two schools to meet at least once every other year and I’d be willing to bet, if any bill would ever come close to gaining bi-partisan support, that would be the one.

And while there was a time I could have named every member of the Aggies’ starting backďŹ eld going into the annual matchup, what I didn’t know until just a few years ago was that the gentleman credited with writing the Aggie War Hymn and I had something in common. We both grew up in the Florence area and both of us graduated from Florence High School.

James “Pinky� Wilson was born in 1897. After graduating from Florence High School, he

enrolled in Texas A&M. World War I was underway, and Wilson decided to interrupt his college education and join the armed forces.

According to a written narrative found on the Museum of the American GI website, “Pinky wanted to see action right away, so he turned down a commission with the army and enlisted as a Marine. Pinky ďŹ gured being a Marine would get him to the frontline faster. However, rather than frontline duty he was assigned as a Muleskinner to the Supply Company, 6th Marine Regiment. A muleskinner drove, at times under heavy shellďŹ re, rations and ammunition into the front lines and brought back the bodies of the dead. This is not the action that Pinky hoped to see. “The US Marines suffered heavy casualties in the Battles of Belleau Woods (June 1918), Soissons (July 1918) and during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. As a result, Pinky ďŹ nally got his wish. He was assigned frontline duty around November 1, 1918. The weather was cold, and the ďŹ ghting was ďŹ erce. Pinky found respite from the struggle of a battleďŹ eld through reection on life at his beloved Texas A&M. Drawing from a variety of ‘Aggie Yells’ common to the time, he wrote the lyrics of a song on the back of a letter from home. “With the signing of the Armistice on November 11, Pinky moved from the battleďŹ elds of France to guard duty in Germany. Over the weeks, Pinky ďŹ nished the lyrics and put them to music. ‘Good-by to Texas University’ was ďŹ nally ďŹ nished. Not wanting to wait

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James “Pinkyâ€? Wilson, a native of the Florence area, authored the Aggie War Hymn and is also credited with writing the Florence School song. (Courtesy Photo) until he returned home, Pinky everywhere.â€? and his fellow Marines sung it At some point in his life for the ďŹ rst time in German.

Wilson also wrote a song that “Pinky returned to A&M would be adopted by Florence when the war was over. While as its school song, and I supback at A&M, he played the pose because I have Buffalo piano at the Queen’s Theater blood running through my in Bryan. One night during in- veins I can still recall the lyrtermission, Pinky’s Cast-Iron ics nearly 45 years after having Quartet performed ‘Good-by graduated from Florence High to Texas University.’ The Yell School: leaders present encouraged “We’re going to ďŹ ght for FlorPinky to enter a jazzed-up ver- ence High School sion of his song in a contest to We’ll ďŹ ght the battle clean pick the ofďŹ cial ďŹ ght song of We’ll do our best to win for A&M. It won! The song, re- you named the Aggie War Hymn, We’re one for all and all for was ďŹ rst sung at Midnight Yell team Practice in 1920.

We are the mighty charging “In 1921, at halftime of Buffaloes the football game against BayTo our colors we’ll be true lor, the Aggie War Hymn was We will ďŹ ght! Fight! Fight! ofďŹ cially played by the FighFor purple and white, tin’ Texas Aggie Band for the Buffaloes we’re all for you.â€? ďŹ rst time. The musical compoFollowing his graduation sition and starting phrase of the from A&M, Wilson would re“Aggie War Hymnâ€? – “Hulla- turn to the Central Texas area baloo, Caneck! Caneck!â€? re- and become a successful busimains amongst the most iconic nessman. Among many civic and recognizable openings to a activities he served as post collegiate song in all of Amer- commander of the Florence ica. From 1918 in war-torn American Legion Post. He was France to the present, Pinky an active member of the MaWilson’s inspirational contri- sonic Lodge. bution to Aggieland lives on in Wilson died in 1980 and was the hearts and minds of Aggies buried in Burnet.

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, November 26, 2020 Page 3

EDITORIAL: Sharing the giving spirit

If we are busy strategizing which pants we will wear Thanksgiving Day to be the most comfortable after a good, generous helping of turkey, a half-dozen sides and a dessert or two, then life is pretty good.

Yes, we have COVID-19 cramping our plans a bit, but a roof over our head, a hot, plentiful holiday meal on our plate and the love of family is evidence that we are very blessed once again this holiday season.

As we count those blessings – in calories and other ways – we should also be considering the needs of those not as fortunate as ourselves in the blessings column.

How do we give thanks, though, for the blessings in our lives? We do so by reminding friends and family what they mean to us. We do so by thanking God for what is good in our lives and the strength to cope with the challenges.

But it is important we do not stop there. We must remember that it is the giving spirit that also helps us show graciously how much we appreciate all of our own good fortune.

For most of us, our trials and challenges in life can seem overwhelming and burdensome, but often when we measure them against the misfortunes of others they pale in comparison. That is

the moment we can point to and say we should truly be thankful for all we have.

We tend to think about having more, rather than being thankful we do not have less.

We do not look at those less fortunate for comparisons, but always up to those who have so much more. Those comparisons make us want for more rather than appreciate our lot in life.

If we focus on those less fortunate, our own miseries, worries and fears seem to disappear. When we give of ourselves – be it our time, money or talents – we gain a wonderful sense of accomplishment that can’t be found anywhere else.

During this holiday season – once your stomach and wallet have settled from this week of indulgence – look around for ways to give of yourself to others in our community. It is not difďŹ cult to ďŹ nd opportunities.

Liberty Hill has many ways to give to our less fortunate neighbors.

If you know of an opportunity, share it with us and we will pass it along. Let’s make sure that the giving spirit – always so strong in our community – shines bright through this holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, from our family at The Independent.

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

THANKSGIVING

Southern Spoon Bread 1 (2 Cups) pint milk 1 Tsp. Salt 2/3 Cup Cornmeal 1 Tbsp. Sugar 2 Tbsp. Margarine

Combine ingredients into a pan and place over medium heat, and let cook until a stiff mush forms.

Stir to prevent lumping. Remove from heat and stir until cooled. Add in three eggs one at a time into the mush. Stir hard after adding each egg.

Pour the mixture into a greased 1 ½ quart casserole pan and bake at 375 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

– Julie Dupree

Martin shared this recipe with me. It changed yams for me forever. Now I can say I love yams.”

For Robin Graham, her simple but delicious chocolate banana pudding pie carries a deep emotional connection for her.

“It’s a simple but yummy recipe that’s good for the holidays for those who can’t or don’t like to bake pies,” Graham said. “It’s the perfect recipe for kids to help with. It’s so simple, and it’s dear to my heart since my mom taught me when I was a kid. She passed away on Nov. 13, and this marks 15 years now.”

The main event of most, if not all, Thanksgiving dinners is everyone’s favorite bird.

Turkey. There are a few ways to cook a turkey, but the three most popular are the traditional oven-roasted, smoking it, and frying it. I personally have had the pleasure of trying each of these three ways, and each one carries significant first memories with them.

When my dad decided to retire from making Thanksgiv-

Thursday, November 26, 2020

Continued from Page 1

ing dinner, he passed the baton to me. The very first time I cooked a turkey, and successfully I might add, was in the traditional style. Seeing the satisfied looks of my family felt like an accomplishment, a life test that I had passed with honors.

The very first time my brother hosted Thanksgiving at his home in Del Rio, he fried the turkey. As I assisted him in making the turkey, it was the first time I realized how similar we were after years of butting heads. It was like the prologue to the great relationship we have now.

Turkey was the first thing that was ever smoked on the barbecue pit that eventually led to my father achieving his dream ALEX RUBIO PHOTO of opening a barbecue smokehouse. He came out of Thanks- Try Julie Dupree’s Pirate Punch Cocktail as a great beverage giving dinner retirement for addition to your Thanksgiving meal. this moment.

It doesn’t matter how people celebrate or what they serve, it’s in the kitchen and around the dinner table where relationships are mended, strengthened, and forged. That’s the magic of Thanksgiving.

Pirate Punch Cocktail 64oz cranberry juice 2 cups vodka 1 cup Everclear 1/2 cup Cointreau 1 can Frozen Limeade

Take a large punch bowl and mix all ingredients into the bowl and prepare for serving.

Itzel Rios’ family enjoys Creamy Potato Soup on Thanksgiving.

(Courtesy Photo)

– Julie Dupree

Creamy Potato Soup

5 large Potatoes 1-liter Vegetable Broth (Can be substituted with water and Knorr Chicken bouillon) 1 Cream cheese pkg 1 medium Onion (chopped) 4 Garlic clove (chopped) 1 tbsp of Knorr Chicken Bouillon Combine ingredients in large pot. Bring to a boil and then set the soup to simmer until the potatoes soften.

Top the soup off with bacon, green onions, croutons, and grated cheese.

– Itzel Rios

Donna Leonard’s Yummy Yams is a family favorite.

(Courtesy Photo)

Robin Graham’s Chocolate Banana Cream Pie is a simple dessert that the kids can help prepare. (Courtesy Photo)

Yummy Yams 2 ½ sticks butter ½ cup of sugar ¼ cup brown sugar 1 tsp cinnamon

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1 cup walnuts, chopped 2 eggs 1 box yellow cake mix 1 large can (29 oz) yams (drained)

Pre-heat oven to 350. Prepare a 13x9 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Reserve 1 cup dry cake mix. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, one stick melted butter, and one egg. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and use a spatula to smooth the top. In the same large bowl, combine the yams with brown sugar, one egg, cinnamon, and one stick of melted butter. Mix until smooth. Pour this mixture over the bottom layer in the baking pan. Sprinkle white sugar, nuts, and the remaining cake mix over the top. Cut the remaining ½ stick of butter into 4-6 pats and place atop the mixture. Cover with foil. Bake for 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Chocolate Banana Cream Pie

Graham Cracker Crust (premade or homemade) 2-3 large ripe bananas 1 box of instant chocolate pudding (+the milk according to the box directions) Cool Whip Slice bananas into thick slices and lay them all along the crust’s bottom and sides. Make the pudding according to directions on the box and then pour the pudding into the pie crust-lined with bananas and put into the fridge for at least one hour to set.

After the pudding has set, arrange sliced bananas covering the top of the pudding. Spoon the nonfrozen cool whip on top of the bananas. Let the pie set in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving.

– Robin Graham

– Donna Leonard

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Thursday, November 26, 2020

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

EDC selects Matt Powell for Executive Director role

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor Following a search that initially began last May, the Liberty Hill Economic Development Corp. voted Nov. 18 to name Matt Powell as its new Executive Director.

Powell has been serving as interim director since May, two months after the Board chose not to renew the contract of former Executive Director Lance Dean without explanation.

In early November, the EDC Board named Powell as its selection, with Board President Johnny Johnston saying he was chosen among 17 total candidates and a short list of five interviewed.

With an agreement on a new contract Nov. 18, all that remains is for the City Council to approve the hire.

The salary is $124,800 annually. The final salary for former EDC Director Lance Dean was $100,180.

With Council approval pending, Powell said the hiring process has been a good one for him.

“I feel like both sides worked together very well,” Powell said of the hiring process.

“We’ve been working together for many months now and their’s a strong relationship there. I think I have a good understanding of what they’re trying to accomplish.”

Powell previously served as Mayor of Cedar Park, then began working with Liberty Hill in 2019 through his consulting firm, Powell Municipal.

He said having watched Liberty Hill for a long time, he

sees this as a chance to be part of something special.

“This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for me,” Powell said. “The only real change has been I’ve been trying to keep the activities up, but I haven’t really wanted to suggest larger changes because I think that would be presumptuous for an interim to do. They’ve shown their faith in me. I think there’s a lot our EDC could be doing to make Liberty Hill widely known as a good place to do business, and the opportunity to be one of those ambassadors for Liberty Hill, especially for business is exciting. Liberty Hill has a really bright future.”

Grant The Board approved a business improvement grant for $5,000 for the owners of the former Hobo Junction building at 3000 RM 1869.

The amount is the maximum grant allowed, and the entire project is estimated at $350,000 in remodeling and improvements. Work includes replacing the roof, and outdoor siding, repairing the porch, interior improvements and new HVAC among other items.

Building owner Anderson Price indicated in a previous interview on the project that he intended to maintain the familiar mural on the back of the building.

The project was originally planned as a renovation to reopen Hobo Junction, but after that plan fell through it was announced it would be home to Farm to Fork, a second location for the Leander restaurant.

Hotel study The EDC Board approved a plan to partner with a developer for the production of a hotel study that will help determine the viability of bringing a hotel project to the community.

“We’re partnering with another company that was planning on commissioning one anyway and they will give us a full copy of it,” Powell said. “It’s nice when you find a partner to do it because they’re going to pay a majority of it, but we’ll end up getting a report that is generally $7,000 to $9,000 for much less money from us.”

While details of the financial investment from the EDC have not been ironed out, once completed, the EDC will receive a complete copy of the study providing a valuable tool without all the cost.

“A lot of people have stated a desire for a hotel and it will help us, and help me, as I’m going out and talking to potential hotel developers to have good, recent data in hand,” Powell said. “In economic development having good data is key when it’s relevant and recent.”

For Powell, knowing if the data suggests it is the right – or the wrong – time for a hotel locally is invaluable.

“This report will help us figure out if our city is ready to support that now, and if not potentially how soon. Maybe the only thing worse than not having a hotel is having a hotel come to town that fails,” he said. “We want the right product at the right size.”

Newspaper shares proceeds from Fall Sports Program

Sports Editor Scott Akanewich (left) recently presented a donation from The Liberty Hill Independent to the LHHS Athletic Department representing a portion of advertising sales in the 2020 Fall Sports Program.

The check was presented to Athletic Director Jeff Walker (right) GO PANTHERS!

BUSINESS

Page 5

PARSONS

Continued from Page 1

because I think they both – with very different styles – are people I highly respect and I think they are an asset to a board. I will take things I’ve learned from them and other board members over the past year and a half and try to implement that.”

She sees her new role as a key communicator for board members, and a conduit for information between Superintendent Steve Snell and other board members, but also knows her role is to help foster a team approach that is inclusive.

“That’s part of being the leader as president is working with everyone together and bringing everyone together,” she said. “That’s how I see my job and I don’t worry about that. Despite the changes that have happened we will still be a good board representing the school district.”

Two new faces – Kendall Carter and Terry Smith – join a board that added two new faces – Parsons and Kathy Major – in the last election in 2019, and Parsons likes the mix of experience and new members the board has today.

“It is a balance of having experience and also fresh ideas and new thoughts,” she said.

“I do think we still have a balance. We have lost some experienced board members and

EVENTS

gained some new ones, but I do think we have that balance.

Having fresh thoughts is always good as long as you can maintain a good stability and a well-functioning board.”

Because she was heavily involved as a volunteer in the district before being elected to the board, Parsons feels she has a good grasp on issues and challenges, but said there is always something new.

“It is constant learning,” she said. “I’ve learned so much in the year and a half I’ve been on the board. I love learning everything I can and I will continue to do so as president to be a better board member.

“I’ve learned a lot about the behind the scenes and the legalities involved,” she added.

“There are a lot of things that you do as a board because legally it is how you have to do it because it’s the State of Texas. That is stuff you don’t necessarily know until you get involved. You get a better understanding of why things happen the way they happen.”

As has become a constant theme when looking at the challenges LHISD faces, Parsons knows that future planning for growth is the most critical issue.

“Something we have not had in previous years before Steve Snell came here was long-term planning,” Parsons

Continued from Page 2

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FREE EVENT The evening kicks off with the Reindeer Run, followed by a lighted parade through downtown where floats from the community provide magic and sparkle, and families stationed along the street pro-

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The parade ends in downtown where the community gathers for a Winter Wonderland — complete with ice skating, real snow, character visits and more. Festival Headliner Little Texas will end the evening with a street dance from 8:3010 p.m.

Dec. 12 Candy Cane Course 9 -11 a.m.

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said. “Now we have a longterm planning committee that’s made up of over 100 community and staff members. They have been meeting and it is basically to focus on the community and staff feelings over the future plans of the district.”

And the key is trying to stay in front of the growth and not get caught trying to play catch up.

“We have growth coming very quickly and in large numbers,” she said. “We know that and we have to prepare. We want to stay ahead in plans for purchasing land and building schools because we are going to need them.

It is challenging to get ahead when you have so much coming, but I do believe with the leadership we have in this district that we can do it.”

All of the challenges are just part of what makes being a board member so satisfying.

“It is an exciting time in Liberty Hill,” Parsons said.

“There’s a lot happening and a time for us to make good decisions so in 15 to 20 years people look back and say Liberty Hill did a really good job planning. That’s our goal.

We want to make those good decisions so we have a great future in the district.”

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This event will be indoors on the Springer Stage inside the Palace Theatre.

Adult: $24 Students: $22 Senior (55+): $22 Student Rush Ticket with ID: $20

Continued from Page 1

to having our new clinic ready for Liberty Hill residents then,” said Darlene Guynes, ARC’s operations director.

Norman Phillips, property manager for Life Long Property Management and an associate with Hawkins Family Partners, said the new strip center behind Liberty Meadows Plaza at 12705 SH 29 West, which houses Care First Walkin Clinic, Bright Fire Cigars and Donut Palace, is complete but does not have any tenants leased yet.

“We have not seen much movement in the way of leasing in Liberty Hill in the last month or so,” Phillips said.

“We’re hoping it’s just cautiousness due to the pandemic and that it will pick back up after the holidays.”

He added that his company also has one vacancy where Texas Pawn and Jewelry used to be at 13750 SH 29, and they are pre-leasing the existing Victory Martial Arts studio at 13740 SH 29.

“The martial arts studio has been having a rough go during the pandemic and we are letting them operate while we look for replacements,” Phillips said. “Calls on the existing spaces have been limited recently, but again, we hope it picks back up in the next few weeks.”

Construction is set to begin soon on the future location for Liberty Hill Pediatrics next door to Liberty Meadows Plaza, said Dr. Tiffani Scott.

“We had to change something for the fire marshal, but as soon as they okay it and we get the permits, we’ll start building,” she said. “It’s going to be a 5,000-square-foot building, with separate entrances for sick and well patients. We will see kids from 0 to 22. As soon as it gets approved, we’re ready.”

At the Water Tower Center, at 14125 W. SH 29, the UPS Store officially opened last week. The store is located between Texas Taco Kitchen and

the Baylor Scott & White therapy group. Another new store in the center, called Blinded

By The Light, is slated to open by the end of November, said Monique Rivera, broker with Asterra. Blinded By The Light will offer home décor and Hunter Douglas window coverings.

Panther Plaza, on the corner of County Road 200 and SH 29, which has remained empty since its completion in October 2019, recently signed its first tenant.

“We are excited to share that we will have Security State Bank and Trust coming to the Panther Plaza,” said Emilie Niekdam, commercial adviser with RESOLUT RE. “They will be occupying 3,000 square feet and estimate to be open March 2021.”

Niekdam added that they are also talking to a nail salon group that would occupy 1,200 square feet, as well as a Vietnamese restaurant, but nothing is set in stone yet.

On the south side of SH 29 and RM 1869, the McCoy’s Building Supply project is on schedule to be completed by May 2021, said MJ Toops, communications specialist for McCoy’s.

“We do not have an official opening date yet, but the final store will be 15,000 square feet and we will have 80 parking spaces,” she added. “By early January, I might have information about the store manager and the beginning of our hiring process for other positions, but we’re not quite to that step yet.”

On Loop 332 heading toward downtown Liberty Hill is Main Street Social, a food hall with Moonie’s Burgers on board for its flagship restaurant. The opening date has yet to be set, but owner James Prince of Prince Development said he is working on a plan for opening.

At the 183 Highlands Retail Center, located on US Hwy 183 heading north into Liberty Hill, one new tenant is set

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excellent kitchen chief. Get ready for some really good food.”

Other notable projects underway in Liberty Hill include Jardin Plaza, located next door to Mexican restaurant Jardin Corona at 15395 W. SH 29, which will consist of six units ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 square feet each; Heritage Ridge, located next to Liberty Hill Junior High on SH 29, which is a 10.5-acre project that will include eight commercial spots; and Vista at 29, about a mile west of Ronald Reagan Boulevard on the south side of SH 29, which will bring retail, restaurants and office space to the area. So far, a pediatric dentist, general dentist, insurance business, mortgage broker and liquor store have signed leases at that property.

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to open early next year. Mark Cardwell, owner and CEO of Texas AC Supply Inc., said his new store will offer air conditioning and heater parts supplies and equipment, including specialty parts.

“My type of store typically only sells to HVAC-licensed contractors,” he said. “Contractors are welcome, but we will also be open to the public.”

The 3,200-square-foot retail store is set to open in January 2021 on the far end of the strip center.

At The Shops at San Gabriel Ridge on Hwy 183 in north Leander, all of the businesses are doing well, said developer Dwain Schuh. The center has one new tenant coming in.

“The new Asian cuisine restaurant, An Thinh, is scheduled to open by the end of this month,” he said. “It is an Asian restaurant with a very cool sushi bar. The owner has landed one of the best sushi chiefs in Central Texas. She also has an

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SPORTS

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, November 26, 2020 Page 6

Making a mark Trio of second-year players providing valuable minutes

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Last season at this time, Gunter Daniels found himself playing junior varsity basketball during his freshman year at Liberty Hill.

Move ahead a year and the 6-foot-4 sophomore is under the microscope and bright lights of the varsity squad.

However, it wasn’t his first taste of big-time high-school hoops, he said.

“Last season, I got called up to the varsity for the playoffs,” said Daniels. “But, I didn’t get to play.”

Well, he’s gotten plenty of chances to play thus far, including hitting a game-winning, buzzer-beating 3-pointer in Liberty Hill’s dramatic 6563 home victory over Copperas Cove on Nov. 14 – although he was quite surprised to even get his hands on the ball as the clock ticked down, he said.

“It was incredible,” said Daniels. “Especially seeing how the ball wasn’t even supposed to come to me.”

Indeed it did and went through the net for the winner, causing an eruption of joy from the Panthers’ bench.

Exactly the kind of moments he expected once he was up playing with the big boys after he and fellow sophomores Cayden Branch and Camden

Justice were also promoted to the varsity this season.

While Daniels played on JV, Branch and Justice did their time on the freshmen team and all three are certainly welcome additions to Liberty Hill head coach Barry Boren’s club, he said.

“We have a mentality here of ‘next man up’ and those guys have done a good job for us so far,” said Boren. “All of them have stepped up and delivered.”

What Boren is referring to is a pair of ankle injuries to starters Kadin Knight and Walker Weems, which sidelined the duo early on in the new campaign, causing him to plug holes in the lineup with the relatively inexperienced trio.

Daniels has had the biggest impact on the offensive end to this point, including a 22-point performance in the win over Copperas Cove, but Boren said the biggest difference he sees in Daniels now as compared to last year is a newfound level of intensity.

“I just told him the other day, ‘You’re playing harder now than you ever have before,’” he said.

Daniels said he knew he needed to strengthen his game at the defensive end of the court to go with his offensive proliferation.

“I’m constantly working on improving my defense,” he said. “The harder I play on defense opens up opportunities for me to score.”

Boren agreed.

“Gunter’s calling card has always been his offensive prowess – he’s silky-smooth and has a lot of pizzazz,” he said.

“He’s always been a defensive liability, but he’s extremely coachable and really wants to get better.”

Boren said Justice, a 6-foot-2 forward, is learning a new way to play this season.

“We needed some size on the varsity,” he said. “So, one of our goals is to get Camden to play more facing the basket.

He was a post for us last year, but he can really shoot the ball well and has a tremendous upside.”

Branch, a 6-foot-1 guard, often lit up opposing defenses last season with his versatility and Boren expects more of the same this year.

“Cayden is like our knockout punch,” he said. “He has a great shooting stroke, he’s long and he can play anywhere from the one to the four.”

Boren cautioned young players sometimes attempt to do too much upon arriving at the varsity level, which can cause an entire offense to be out of harmony, he said.

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Gunter Daniels (#22) is one of three Liberty Hill sophomores who are getting quality minutes for the Panthers’ varsity this season.

“Good basketball is like good now, I’ve gotten more used very important.” music – it has a rhythm,” said to everything, which makes it Daniels added even though he Boren. “If one part of a sym- more comfortable to play and had designs on playing on the phony orchestra is off-note, not try too hard – I know I varsity this season, he wasn’t sure it would happen so soon, everyone can hear it. But, all need to stay calm.” these guys as so anxious to do As he gets more comfortable but now that it has, he plans to good.” with his teammates, it’s a mu- make the most of the opportuDaniels underwent such a tual process and one which nity. stage early on in the season, carries over for Branch, Justice “I just want to play hard, but said he seems to have left and him as a result of having score and get rebounds,” he it in the past as he gets more been teammates before, he said. “I’ll feel like I had a sucaccustomed to his new team- said. cessful season if I’ve made a mates, surroundings and ex“We were all on the same difference at the varsity level.”

AAU team together,” said pectations.

“I don’t really feel too much Daniels. “So, we have that pressure,” said Daniels. “By chemistry, which I think is

Coaching across the gender gap Lady Panthers boss has led both girls’ and boys’ teams

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor As a youngster, Chris Lange played basketball at Liberty Hill Junior High and it wasn’t a very pleasant experience.

“I think I played seven minutes the entire season,” said

Lange. “I didn’t think that was right, so when I became a coach, I promised myself I was going to be the coach I had always wanted when I was a player.”

Fast forward to the present day and Lange is currently in

his sixth season as Lady Panthers head hoops coach and has indeed had a chance to implement his very own style of managing teenage athletes.

And as far as he’s concerned, there’s only one way.

“I’ve always tried to coach

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Lady Panthers head coach Chris Lange has coached both girls and boys in his career and knows there are distinct differences.

everyone equally from the best player on the team to the worst,” he said. “I’ve never looked back at any season and said I didn’t do what was right for the kids first.”

Another challenge Lange has conquered is crossing over to coach female players – something he first did as a student-assistant while attending the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor to then-Lady Crusaders head coach Cliffa Foster, who brought him on board the staff.

According to Lange, one of the biggest differences between coaching boys and girls is the level of concentration each side offers while being instructed.

“I think it’s easier to keep girls more focused on what you want them to do,” said Lange, who coached boys at the junior high level before moving up to high school. “Boys are pretty much always bouncing off the wall like boys do – they can be pretty rambunctious.”

Perhaps the biggest adjustment for him was learning to properly manage the female mindset, which at times can be quite challenging, said Lange.

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Senior Kindsee Escamilla (#2) had five kills in her final high-school match during the Lady Panthers 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-19) opening-round playoff defeat to Alamo Heights in Seguin on Nov. 19.

“I always have girls in my office working out problems,” he said. “After a while, you can pretty much tell when there’s something wrong, whether it’s something with school or whatever.”

Although he must sometimes be careful upon approaching a player with a problem, he said.

“They’ll just start crying when I start talking to them,” said Lange. “But, it’s good to just let it out.”

Lange said the most important aspect of being able to handle such situations with grace requires one basic understanding.

“You just have to know your kids,” he said. “Not only as players, but as people and individuals.”

Athletically speaking, the girls’ game tends to be quite a bit more technical in nature due to the slower speed it’s played at, said Lange.

“Sometimes you watch a boys’ game and it’s just a track meet,” he said. “But, with girls, you have to be more disciplined and focus more on proper offensive and defensive execution.”

Another aspect of successful

coaching is to have the ability to integrate new players into the squad, as is the case at the moment with Ella Grenada, who is currently filling in on the varsity as the Lady Panthers have been shorthanded due to a quarantine.

Lange said it reminds him of a situation earlier in his Liberty Hill coaching days when he had to put a pair of unproven underclassmen into the lineup.

“We had Bethany McCleod and Shaylin Vickers, who I had to put right into a district game when they were both freshmen,” he said. “Now, all of sudden, they’re playing against girls who are two or three years older. But, they took it on their shoulders, got into the game and ran the floor.”

All in all, Lange said he simply just wants his players to enjoy playing the game – although he needs to go about it differently than if he was coaching boys.

“I certainly don’t lower my expectations, but I want them to have a good time,” he said.

“With girls, you just have to push different buttons.”

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Part of moving up to Class 5A this season for the Lady Panthers of Liberty Hill was a challenging district schedule, which saw head coach Gretchen Peterson’s club tested throughout the campaign.

It also meant after a thirdplace finish in the district, there would be no easy opening-round playoff matchup against a small-town team like last year when they swept aside Bandera, who had a losing record both overall and in district play.

No, this season presented an entirely different challenge altogether with Liberty Hill looking across the net at Alamo Heights of San Antonio on Nov. 19 in Seguin and this time around it was the Lady Panthers who were victims of a first-round straight-sets sweep at the hands of the Lady

Mules by a score of 3-0 (2519, 25-20, 25-19).

Despite nine kills from Emma Becker and five by Kindsee Escamilla, the Purple-and-Gold were once again sent packing from the playoffs early on for the third consecutive season – although Peterson was certainly in no mood to measure the present against the past.

“We’re not going to compare this year to last season or any other,” she said. “We’re going to look at the big picture and not let our entire season be defined by one match.”

Maddi Rowley got the Lady Panthers on the board early, with a kill to even up the first set after Alamo Heights got out to a lead, which was soon followed by another from Kaileigh Truslow, but it was the Mules who established

LHHS suffers first-round exit against Alamo Heights

See VOLLEYBALL, Page 8

Thursday, November 26, 2020

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 7

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

Channeling anger and aggression

Lady Panthers hoopster likes to play ‘mean’

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Kenzy Wise isn’t very friendly on a basketball court.

Just ask her.

“I’m not a very nice person out there,” said Wise, a Liberty Hill junior forward. “I like being physical, I like to win and I’m not afraid to mix it up.”

According to Wise, one can’t expect to have success without a willingness to bang bodies and establish a presence on the floor against opponents.

“You can’t just take it and not give it back,” said Wise.

Not the biggest of players, but possessing plenty of grit in her game, Wise said often times opponents will be a bit taken aback by her physicality once the ball goes up, which in turn, works even more to her advantage, she said.

“I think the normal perception is it’s the bigger, stronger girls who people are afraid of,” said Wise. “So, that helps me, too.”

Speaking of fear, that’s exactly the emotion Wise felt herself upon her arrival as a freshman and meeting Liberty Hill head coach Chris Lange – although it didn’t last very long.

“I was scared to death of him because he looked like a mean guy,” said Wise. “But, after getting to know him, he’s just a big teddy bear – like everyone’s dad out on the court.

But, he definitely has his yelling moments.”

Wise credits her father with bringing the ruggedness out of her while she was growing up.

“Oh, yeah, my dad’s very strong and stern,” she said.

“He taught me how to be tough.”

One very important aspect of that was to give his daughter a warning about unacceptable emotional behavior.

“He would tell me things like ‘There’s no crying in basketball,’” said Wise.

Despite the fact she has an older brother who played football for the Panthers, Wise said all of her athletic ability and toughness was something she’s gleaned from within, as opposed to attributing it to any kind of big-bro influence while growing up.

“He played, but he wasn’t very good,” joked Wise. “I’m definitely the athlete in the family.”

One way to tell how high Wise’s competitive meter is running is to check the redness level in her face, as she has a tendency to gain more and more color as the intensity ratchets up in the heat of battle.

“It’s just how my skin is – my face is red all the time,” she said. “But, it definitely gets more red during games.”

Another product of her ferocious style of play is a set of fingers on both hands which have been used and abused during the course of years of reaching into passing lanes to disrupt opposing offenses.

“I get jammed fingers all the time,” said Wise. “I don’t think they’re ever going to all be the same again – they get

really swollen sometimes.”

Lange said he knew exactly what he was getting with Wise when he decided to promote her to the varsity squad two years ago as a freshman – although Mom wasn’t so sure.

“I remember after I decided to move Kenzy up, her mom came to me and said ‘Are you sure she’s ready?’” he said.

“So, I said, ‘Guess we’re going to find out.’”

For the record, Wise was more than ready and ever since making her varsity debut in that game against Kileen Ellison, she hasn’t looked back in cementing a spot for herself in the Lady Panthers’ plans – a fact which is constantly backed up by solid performances, said Lange.

“Kenzy always plays extremely hard – she’s a special player,” he said. “Although, I’d like her to be a little more aggressive with her scoring.”

All that being said, Lange said Wise ranks right up with the elite of Liberty Hill basketball.

“Kenzy could’ve fit right in on any of the teams we’ve had here,” he said. “She’s one of the best of the best.”

Wise has shown in the past a knack for getting tough buckets – especially when the pressure is on, but the part of her game which she prides herself most on is at the opposite end of the court, she said.

“Defense is where I really try to affect the game,” she said.

“I’m not the best scorer.”

One thing she is one of the

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Being at the Liberty Hill-Navarro football game at Panther Stadium on Friday night was like when you’re on the road and pass a wreck.

You don’t necessarily want to look, but you know you just can’t resist the temptation to see exactly how much damage is done as you slowly roll past a cavalcade of flashing lights and tow trucks.

Final score, 84-0 in favor of the home team and it wasn’t even that close.

In fact, on the last possession of the contest, third-team senior quarterback Jaret Martinez was called upon from the sidelines to basically snap the ball and power straight ahead until someone on the other team decided to get in his way.

Usually 10 or 15 yards later, somebody finally would.

But, the Panthers probably could’ve run that same play each and every snap of the game and still put up a basketball-like score.

If there was a silver lining to such a one-sided contest, it was the fact good soldiers like Martinez, who have showed

up to practice every day and worked just as hard as everyone else, got some playing time under the lights.

Another senior, running back Bryant Amsler – who also falls in that same category – got some run and scored on an 18-yard touchdown run, his first-ever varsity score.

So, good for kids like them who got to go out with a bang in the final regular-season home game of their highschool career.

However, a younger play like junior Grady Flinn, who scored a 65-yard touchdown, among his four carries for 112 yards, was a glimpse of what next season holds, as he will certainly fill some of the void left by this year’s all-senior starting backfield of Trey Seward, Blake Simpson and Eric De La Cruz.

Speaking of the starters, Seward got to dash into the end zone on four separate occasions on the evening, while Simpson and De La Cruz each scored once.

Seward carried the ball exactly four times in the entire contest and didn’t hit the ground even once, scoring on all four carries in racking up 146 yards, which, by the way, was good for 36.5 yards every time he touched the ball.

This is the kind of thing which

happens in Madden when a gamer who is very skilled is matched up against someone who has no clue whatsoever.

“What does the square button do?! How do I tackle?!”

Indeed, it was that kind of night for the Panthers.

Simpson only carried the ball once and guess what?

Scored.

Along with Seward and Simpson, Amsler and freshman Noah Long also scored every time they got the ball.

Now, our math is a bit sketchy, but we believe that’s seven carries and seven touchdowns.

Perhaps Navarro’s controller was broken or needed to be recharged.

God bless the Vikings – they were out there fighting and hustling to the end, but unfortunately didn’t belong in the same area code as the Panthers.

We’re pretty sure Prowler could’ve gotten some reps in the backfield on this night and put up some numbers.

One thing we will say is at least the overwhelming majority of Navarro supporters were practicing social distancing of the highest order by staying home in Austin, as there were about a dozen who decided to make the drive and brave the sub-70-degree temperatures.

But, all joking aside, this was

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Kenzy Wise (#14) plays with a physical, aggressive edge to her game in order to get the most out of herself. best at, though, is rebounding, which is where her toughness and aggressiveness are both on full display, usually resulting with the ball in her hands – and it’s not a complicated formula.

“I just go for the ball as fast as I can and don’t stop until I get it,” said Wise.

The girls’ game features more wrestling matches for loose balls on the floor – something else which is right up her alley – and a fact Wise attributes to the physical difference between the genders.

“I think boys play more uptempo because they’re faster and can do that,” she said.

“Whereas with girls, we’re more physical because we have to be.”

Of course, as things get more and more heated during games as bodies bang and hit the hardwood, verbal jousting can sometimes enter the fray, although Wise said she usually stays away from such shenanigans.

“With girls, it’s more angry and there’s more drama,” she said. “But, for the most part, people are usually afraid to say things.”

In fact, when words are exchanged, they’re usually quite cordial.

“When we played Ellison this season, one of their girls hit me in the head by mistake,” said Wise. “While the play was still going on, she was asking me if I was alright.”

However, at the end of the day, Wise knows she needs to play rough-and-tumble to get the most out of herself – although she admits to having to strike a balance between being intense and letting her on-court emotions get carried away.

“I have to control myself to a certain extent,” she said. “But, you need to be at least a little physical or you’ll get pushed around.”

Sometimes in sports you simply get beat by another really good team who makes more plays and fewer mistakes – regardless of ow “ready” you are.

The Lady Panthers’ thrilling five-set road win against stateranked Cedar Park was the high point of the campaign, as they had the resolve to win a fifth-set tiebreaker after having surrendered a 2-0 sets lead against the Timberwolves in a hostile environment to boot.

After the playoff defeat, Peterson pointed out her team was “100 percent better” than they were at the same time last season (when they advanced to the second round in Class 4A) and you know what?

We believe her.

Anyone who knows even the slightest thing about volleyball can see that.

But, when you get to the playoffs the way the UIL has it structured, it’s largely the luck of the draw as far as who is on the other side of your part of the bracket.

It just so happens District 25 was aligned with District 26, which meant Liberty Hill was paired up at the bi-district level with a league whose winner (Canyon) finished with a 22-1 overall record and 16-0 in district play, followed by Alamo Heights, who was 16-2 and 142, respectively.

So, it certainly wasn’t going to be easy for the third and fourth-place squads in the opposite district, of which the Lady Panthers were one.

Even if Liberty Hill had managed to finish one spot up the standings in second, they would’ve faced a Dripping Springs team who sent Cedar Park packing in straight sets in the first round, as well.

So, there’s some solace in the fact the Timberwolves suffered the same fate as the Lady Panthers and misery loves company, but it’s just unfortunate to be paired up with such a strong district in the first round.

Also unfortunate is the fact if they had beaten Alamo Heights, the second round would’ve featured the kind of cupcake opponent usually encountered in the postseason opener in Floresville, who finished fourth in District 28 with an overall record of 9-14 and 7-7 in district.

In fact, the Jaguars had “upset” District 27 runner-up Edison (Thomas would’ve had a better chance) in the first round, a team who had played all of five matches all season.

District champions Rouse was the only one of the four teams from District 25 to advance to the second round, as fourthplace Leander also lost, so the Lady Panthers certainly aren’t alone in their disappointment.

Just the luck of the draw and it was very unlucky, indeed.

So, there we have it.

Two teams in two different sports.

One was tested all season long and the other hasn’t been.

How the Panthers’ gridiron squad performs in the postseason will tell us how important it is or not to be pushed during the regular season as far as being ready for the playoffs.

Full credit to Peterson and her team, as they had an outstanding season – their first in Class 5A – and were certainly ready – they just ran into a very good team.

We’ll soon see if Walker’s worries have been merited when his team finally faces a formidable opponent.

Ready or not (playoffs), here we come!

Liberty Hill’s Christian Hunter and Hayden Griffin finished 14th overall in a field of 70 teams at a Texas High School Bass Association tournament on Lake LBJ on Nov. 14.

(Courtesy Photo)

FISHING TEAM BRIEFS The Liberty Hill fishing team competed Nov. 14 at a Texas High School Bass Association tournament on Lake LBJ in a field of 70 teams.

Holt Avery and Michael Evans had the highest finish for

Liberty Hill in 12th overall with four bass weighing in at 7.41 pounds.

Christian Hunter and Hayden Griffin finished 14th with four fish weighing 6.76 pounds and Jack Reynolds and Cole

Tanksley were 21st with three fish at 6 pounds.

Big bass for Liberty Hill was caught by Cade Reynolds at 2.01 pounds.

simply the most extreme example of what Liberty Hill head coach Jeff Walker and his players have been facing all season long in the dumpster fire known as District 14.

Six games played, 328 points scored, seven points allowed.

We’ve already addressed the absurdity of the Panthers not being placed in a district with neighbors such as the Leander and Georgetown schools, along with Cedar Park, like all the other Liberty Hill teams have across the entire sports spectrum after the program moved up to Class 5A this year, so we won’t beat our head against a dead horse.

The Panthers will face one of those neighbors – Glenn – in the opening round of the playoffs, as the Grizzlies have already finished as the fourthplace team in District 13 and should provide more of a challenge than they’ve faced all season (although that isn’t saying much at all) and the million-dollar question is “Will they be ready?”

It’s certainly a question which has Walker worried and rightfully so.

Imagine sitting in a classroom learning elementary algebra for an entire semester, only to show up on the day of the final exam and be presented with advanced trigonometry problems to be graded on.

This is exactly what the Panthers are facing as they head into the playoffs.

But, first, there’s one more district game in the form of a road trip to Northeast Early College (as opposed to late high school?) to close out the regular season (which, by the way, has been anything but regular for a number of reasons).

We’ll see what happens then.

Along those same lines, we have the Lady Panthers volleyball squad, who was ousted in the opening round of the playoffs by an Alamo Heights team who really should’ve been the kind of side head coach Gretchen Peterson’s charges should’ve faced in the third or fourth round – not the first – as the Mules (great nickname, as they were very stubborn by insisting on winning – see what we did there?) were the best team they had found themselves across the net from all season.

We bring this up because the Lady Panthers navigated an extremely difficult district schedule – the opposite of football – and still came up short in the end.

However, it wasn’t because of anything they did or didn’t do.

Page 8

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, November 26, 2020

Panthers score 12 unanswered touchdowns in rout of Vikings

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When Grady Flinn crossed the goal line at the end of a 65yard touchdown run nearing the end of the third quarter at Panther Stadium on Nov. 20, it finished off the scoring in an 84-0 Liberty Hill victory over Navarro.

The fact Flinn was in the game could’ve given one an indication of how the proceedings has transpired over the course of the evening without even checking the scoreboard.

Sure, the speedy junior will probably be a starter in the Purple-and-Gold backfield next season, but it’s still this season with the likes of seniors Trey Seward, Blake Simpson and Eric De La Cruz on the Panthers’ roster.

However, after a first half which saw the home side outscore the visitors by a 56-0 margin, the starters played the opening series of the second half before taking the rest of the night off while their understudies got some much-deserved playing time.

Senior Bryant Amsler scored on a 10-yard run in the third period right before freshman Noah Long slashed his way into the end zone from five

yards out once the regulars were out of the game, which both preceded Flinn’s dash and the Vikings were vanquished.

Early on, though, it was junior defensive back Carter Hudson who stole the show, as the young man known as “Rocket” ran a Navarro punt back 40 yards for the first points of the night, then followed that up with a 30-yard interception return for another touchdown in the second quarter, with a third score nullified by a penalty.

Linebacker Kaden McMahan got in on the defensive scoring with a 47-yard interception return of his own to make it 21-0 in the first quarter, while all the while, what few plays the Panthers were running on offense were hitting jackpots in the form of long touchdowns.

Seward had a 61-yard touchdown run to go with scoring efforts of 25, 3 and 51 yards, while Simpson scored from 38 yards out and De La Cruz added a 15-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to produce the halftime advantage.

The closest Navarro came to putting points on the board all night was in the fourth quarter after a long catch-and-run had the ball inside the Liberty Hill 10-yard line, only for the

Vikings to fumble away any chance they had of being the first offense to score against the Panthers’ defense in district play this season.

In all, 12 Panthers touchdowns without reply by the visitors meant an easy – but frustrating – night for Liberty Hill head coach Jeff Walker.

“These kinds of games aren’t going to prepare us for the playoffs,” he said. “But, at least a lot of our kids got to play tonight.”

Players like backup quarterback Will Szewczyk and No. 3 senior signal-caller Jaret Martinez, along with a host of others on both sides of the ball, who got the opportunity to play under the lights in the final regular-season home game of the season.

However, all sentimentality aside, Walker could once again only rue the fact his team continues to be untested with the postseason looming only three weeks away.

“You can only play against the teams who are out there in front of you,” said Walker.

“But, when you play teams like this, you’re not ready and it scares me.”

Despite the fact Walker has more important things to con-

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Carter Hudson (#24) returned a punt and an interception for touchdowns in Liberty Hill’s 84-0 home victory against Navarro on Nov. 20. cern himself with than preventing opponents from being embarrassed, the veteran coach went out of his way to at least attempt to keep the score down – although that’s a quite difficult proposition under such conditions, he said.

“I was trying really hard not to score at the end,” said Walker.

“We didn’t want to get to 90.”

Walker remains resigned to the fact the entire season has largely been an exhibition against far inferior competi-

tion, but that doesn’t make it any easier for him to accept, he said.

“The next good team we play is going to be a playoff team,” said Walker. “We should be a little better, but we did all we could here tonight.”

Liberty Hill (7-0, 5-0) clinched the District 14 title with the victory and is lined up to face the fourth-place squad in District 13 in Glenn in three weeks on Dec. 11 – a contest the Panthers will host.

Volleyball

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Gloria Kostroun (21) led Liberty Hill with 10 points in the Lady Panthers’ 38-26 away loss to Killeen Ellison on Nov. 17.

Lady Panthers lose to Vandegrift

Liberty Hill hosted Class 6A Vandegrift Nov. 20 and came up just short against the Vipers by a score of 42-36.

Jessica Holliday led the Lady Panthers with 14 points as Liberty Hill head coach Chris Lange still found himself shorthanded due to a number of his varsity players being under quarantine.

The Lady Panthers trailed 11-10 after the first quarter, but led, 24-20, at halftime, as

Holliday hit a trio of 3-pointers along the way.

Vandegrift charged back to take a 36-31 advantage after three periods before holding on to win.

Madison Walker added nine points and Kenzy Wise eight for Liberty Hill in the defeat.

Killeen Ellison 38, Liberty Hill 26 The Lady Panthers made the trip north to visit Killeen Ellison Nov. 17 and returned

home with a 38-26 loss to the Eagles.

Gloria Kostroun led Liberty Hill with 10 points, while Holliday added eight and Walker five.

The Lady Panthers trailed, 13-10, after one quarter and 19-14 at the half.

Despite closing the gap to 2421 after three, the home side held on for the victory.

superior net presence in the person of 6-foot-1 sophomore Hannah Whittingstall and 5-foot-10 junior Kylie Wickley, who began bombing away at the Liberty Hill defense early and often.

Becker served an ace nearing the midway point of the set to pull her side within a pair of points at 8-6, but Liberty Hill couldn’t quite close the gap on Alamo Heights, despite additional kills by Bailey Becker and Rowley as the Mules stubbornly held on to the lead.

Escamilla collected a kill to make the score 14-11, but that was the closest the Lady Panthers would get for the rest of the set despite another pair of kills and a block by Emma Becker, as the Mules would take the opening stanza, 2519.

Liberty Hill won the opening point of the second set, but Alamo Heights continued its relentless assault, racing out to a 7-2 advantage before an Ailie Hair block quelled some of the momentum as the Lady Panthers fought ferociously to stay in the match.

Emma Becker and Rowley both hammered home winners, followed by a pair of Escamilla kills and another block by Hair, but the Mules carried on with nearly mistake-free play in maintaining the lead.

Finally, after steadily chip-

But, first they must finish off the regular season with a road game against Northeast Early College on Nov. 27 – the day after Thanksgiving – and after that one, Walker hopes all the turkeys will finally be out of the way.

“Winning the district is always good – especially in our first season in (Class) 5A,” said Walker. “But, that’s never our goal entering the season.”

Continued from Page 6

ping away at the Alamo Heights advantage on the strength of a kill and an ace

by Truslow, Liberty Hill caught the Mules and leveled the score at 18-18 on a Rowley kill after an Emma Becker ace – all part of a 10-4 Lady Panthers run which followed immediately after a time-out was called by Peterson in order to calm the troops, she said.

“I just told them to settle in and make plays,” said Peterson.

However, after the Lady Panthers had gone ahead, 1918, on an Escamilla block, the Mules rebounded with a 7-1 run of their own to close out the set and take a 2-0 lead in the match.

The third set saw the score even at 3-3 early on, but soon Alamo Heights began to extend its lead courtesy of a 9-2 run, which made the score 12-5 before moving out to as much as an 18-9 advantage.

The Lady Panthers courageously fought on, as Emma Becker had six kills in the set, but after Hair blocked her fourth shot of the night nearing the death, Alamo Heights won the final two points of the match and in doing so, drove the final nails into the Lady Panthers’ coffin.

In addition to her nine kills, Emma Becker recorded a pair of aces, two blocks, 10 assists and 10 digs, while Emma

Parsons picked up 13 assists and Haley Kuhlmann had 11 digs to lead Liberty Hill and Truslow also had two aces on the match.

Alamo Heights was led by Wickley and Whittingstall, who had 12 and 11 kills, respectively, with Ruby O’Brien collecting 34 assists on the evening.

Despite the disappointment of another early playoff exit, Peterson is convinced her club is headed in the right direction looking to the future.

“Okay, so we were a team who finished third in our district and lost in the first round of the playoffs,” she said. “But, our team this year is 100 percent better than we were at this time last year. Not to take anything away from last season’s team, but we were in a tough district this year and our kids battled the whole way. Losing in the first round in (Class) 5A compared to 4A is like night and day, so to compare the two is irrelevant – they’re different mindsets. Our girls never made excuses, worked hard and rose to the challenge all season and we’ll celebrate that as we move forward.”

Liberty Hill finished the season with an overall record of 16-6 after posting a 10-4 mark in district play, good for a third-place finish.

LHHS defeats Little River Academy

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Entering its road game against Liberty Hill on Nov. 21, the Little River Academy Bumblebees were ranked number four across all of Class 3A. However, that lofty status might take a hit after a 68-52 defeat to the Panthers.

Anthony Sierras scored a game-high 29 points, while Kadin Knight and Hunter Clayton each added 16 in the victory.

According to head coach Barry Boren, the visitors simply had no answer for the offensive creativity of Sierras.

“Anthony had his way tonight,” said Boren. “We knew if we could get the ball to him early, their big kid wasn’t going to want to come out from under the basket to guard him.”

Which is exactly what happened in the early going of the contest, as Sierras poured in 13 points during an opening quarter which saw the Panthers and Bumblebees even through the opening stages of the game until Little River Academy opened up a 14-9 advantage

around the midway point of the first period.

But, after Knight and Sierras hit back-to-back threes to give Liberty Hill a 17-14 lead, Clayton scored on a strong drive to the hoop, which resulted in an and-one and a 3-point play.

Sierras hit his final bucket of the quarter for a 22-14 Panthers lead after one.

In fact, after Clayton hit the first basket of the second stanza, it completed a 15-0 Liberty Hill run which saw the home side flip the score from trailing 14-9 to leading 24-14, a stretch Boren attributed to his team’s up-tempo style of play.

“When you play how we do, you can get on one of those runs,” he said. “You look up and all of a sudden a four-point lead goes to 14.”

Moments after the visitors finally broke the Panthers’ scoring streak, Sierras hit another three, which increased the lead further to 27-16 before Camden Justice and Knight each hit the front end of one-and-ones, followed by a pair of successful attempts from the line each

by Clayton and Sierras for a 33-23 halftime advantage.

In all, Liberty Hill closed the half with a 24-9 run.

As the second half got underway, the sides played a more evenly-matched contest, but it was Sierras who maintained the hot hand, sandwiching a pair of buckets around two free throws, before Knight hit a three, then closed the quarter with a basket off a steal and Liberty Hill led, 48-38 entering the fourth.

Clayton scored the first points of the final period, but the Bumblebees proved resolute in not letting the game get away by trading scores back and forth before the Panthers were finally able to pull away and seal the victory.

Senior guard Bobby Mundy Anthony Sierras (#10) scored 29 points in Liberty Hill’s 68-52 scored off a steal before Sier- Academy on Nov. 21. ras added a 3-point play and yet to miss from the line this 23, 27 and 29 points – in that Knight scored the final six season, going 22-for-22. order – in the Panthers’ first points of the game.

Needless to say, Boren is en- four games of the new season.

In addition to his sharpshoot- joying watching the offensive Liberty Hill will play seven ing from the field, Sierras progression of the 6-foot-3 more games before opening was a perfect 7-of-7 from the California transfer as he ad- the district schedule at home free-throw line, which follows justs to life in the Lone Star against Cedar Park on Dec. 15. up an 11-for-11 effort in the State.

Liberty Hill 58, St. Michael’s previous game against St. Mi“Is he a weapon or what?” 51 chael’s. said Boren. “He keeps scoring Sierras scored 27 points in Sierras is currently averaging more and more every game.”

Liberty Hill’s 58-51 road vic22.3 points per game and has Indeed, Sierras has scored 10, tory against St. Michael’s on

home victory over Little River Nov. 17.

Daniels added 16 points and Clayton 13 in a contest which saw the Panthers lead 17-11 after one quarter and 29-27 at halftime.

Sierras scored 10 and eight points in the first and fourth quarters, respectively and Daniels hit a three in the final period to help secure the victory.

Thursday, November 26, 2020

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 9

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