13 minute read
PANTHER SPORTS
Lady Panthers’ playoff performance one to be proud of
BY SCOTT AKANEWICH
SPORTS EDITOR
When the season began, the Lady Panthers’ volleyball team was adjusting to a new head coach with a new core of players a er having lost a group of seniors who had formed the nucleus of the squad the year before.
But, Marie Bruce entered her fi rst season as head coach with high hopes.
Suffi ce to say, her team not only met her expectations, but exceeded them in advancing to the Class 5A state tournament.
According to Bruce, her squad’s potential combined with work ethic and belief propelled them to lo y heights.
“Going in, I knew our team was super-talented,” said Bruce. “But, they’ve really bought into me and what I want from them. Most of all, they believe in themselves.”
In the end, the Lady Panthers were defeated by Reedy in the state semifi nals by a score of 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-12), but that certainly didn’t diminish a season that saw them fi nish with an overall record of 42-11 and a second-place district fi nish with a mark of 11-3.
Liberty Hill fi nished runner-up in the district standings by virtue of its pair of defeats at the hands of Rouse, but when the Raiders once again stood in their way in the regional fi nals, the Lady Panthers exacted revenge on their rivals with a stirring 3-1 (11-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-22) victory.
Bruce said once her team dropped the opening set, they knew they needed an all-out eff ort to get back into the match and eventually prevail.
“We had to reset ourselves a er that fi rst set and remember our game plan,” she said. “With every match being win-or-go-home, that’s even more reason to leave it all out on the court.”
Leading the way against Rouse was junior outside hi er Gigi Mason, who collected 19 kills, while Taylor Gaines hammered home 11 and Kealy Dirner eight.
While Dirner has been among the Lady Panthers’ kill leaders all season, Bruce said Gaines has steadily improved her play as the campaign has progressed and is now an integral part of the Liberty Hill rotation.
“Taylor has been huge for us in the playoff s,” she said of the sophomore outside hi er. “Especially against Rouse.”
Ge ing started
Going into this season’s Class 5A state playoff s, the Lady Panthers were determined to avoid their postseason fate of the past four years when they exited with opening-round losses.
Following a 3-0 (25-21, 25-14, 25-22) victory over Tivy at LBJ High School in Johnson City, the Purple-and-Gold could rest assured when their heads hit pillows, knowing they would indeed live to fi ght another day a er having vanquished the ghosts of previous postseasons.
“There is so much pressure off our shoulders now,” said Dirner, who led Liberty Hill with 11 kills. “When the match started, I was nervous like, ‘This is really happening.’”
Throughout the match, Dirner’s net presence and serving skills were on display – along with her defensive prowess in repelling several howitzers off the swings of Tivy hi ers to keep plays alive that were seemingly ticketed for the hardwood – a fact that wasn’t lost on Bruce in the a ermath.
“We’ve been pu ing a lot of pressure on Kealy to be a more well-rounded player,” said Bruce. “We’ve wanted her to realize her complete role on the team and tonight she stepped up big for us.”
Dirner admi ed the additional responsibilities can be a bit burdensome, but embraces the concept of helping her team win in a variety of ways.
“It’s diffi cult to do,” she said, of ge ing low to dig balls off the fl oor in addition to fl ying high above the net. “But, as a hi er you’re a be er player if you play defense also.”
Moving on
With their fi rst-round playoff exit jinx fi rmly in the rear-view mirror following their opening-round victory over Tivy, the Lady Panthers carried that momentum over into an area-round match-up against Harlandale – a 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-12) victory over the Indians that propelled them into the regional quarterfi nals.
Mason led Liberty Hill with 13 kills in a match the Purple-and-Gold fi rmly controlled from the outset against the District 28 champions.
Bruce praised Mason for her ability to recognize when to put the hammer down and when to take some pace off her shots depending on the situation.
“Gigi knows when to be smart and when to be aggressive with her swings,” she said. “I think that comes with just more maturity and thinking through situations.”
According to Mason, she was simply part of a well-oiled machine in the win.
“Everybody had great energy tonight,” said Mason, who entered the match leading the Lady Panthers with 376 kills on the
Ultimately, Liberty Hill fi nished third at the Class 5A state tournament at the end of a highly successful season. (Courtesy Photo)
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Coming off a high
Lady Panthers hoops looks to build off postseason run
BY SCOTT AKANEWICH
SPORTS EDITOR
Last season, the Lady Panthers made a dramatic playoff run all the way to within a game of qualifying for the Class 5A state tournament – all the more remarkable considering they failed to even make the postseason the previous year.
But, a new season is like the morning sun rising at the outset of a new day.
What happened yesterday no longer matters.
It’s what comes next that does.
Which is why this season is a script flip for Head Coach Chris Lange, as in coming off a memorable campaign instead of a disappointing one.
However, the fact still remains.
As wonderful a ride as it was, this year presents a massive challenge for a team that lost eight seniors – and four of its starters – to graduation.
“We only have three seniors this year,” said Lange, of forwards Abbie Billingsley and Kelsey Bullock and center Payton Hanson. “So, the message we’re trying to get across to them is to remember how hard it was last year.”
Indeed, last season began with muted expectations coming off the non-playoff campaign the previous season, but Lange said as the season wore on, everything slowly, but surely fell into place.
“Early on, we took some lumps, but we stayed together,” he said. “Little by little, the pieces came together – we stayed the course and by the end of the year we were a different team.”
Stepping up
Billingsley was a backup for most of last season during her first on the Lady Panthers’ varsity, playing behind starter Kenzy Wise, but when the senior was injured in the playoffs, Billingsley was asked to step into a bigger role and responded.
Now, the starting job is hers from the get-go and the 3-point sharpshooter is planning on taking what she gleaned from that experience and using it this time around, she said.
“I think the biggest thing I learned was how to stay calm in pressure situations,” said Billingsley. “Also, to be able to keep my teammates calm.”
As a senior herself now, Billingsley is taking more of a role in guiding her younger teammates through the same trials and tribulations she experienced as an underclassman.
“Back then, I was so scared to talk – I don’t think any of the seniors even knew my name,” she said. “I always thought the best player on the court was the one that was supposed to be most vocal, but now I know that’s not true. Also, I’m a lot more confident now.”
Moving forward
One player that is back this year is sophomore point guard Gabby Mundy, who took over the starting role midway through last year and never looked back in playing with a poise beyond her inexperience at the varsity level.
According to Lange, Mundy can only continue to get better.
“Gabby’s definitely going to improve as we go along and she gets more and more minutes on the court,” said Lange. “I was a little surprised she did so well last year – especially with some of the tough teams we had to face – but after awhile I had a really good feeling about her.”
Lange said perhaps the best aspect of last season’s team was the absolute buy-in he had from everyone up and down the entire roster – a formula that produced fabulous chemistry and one he will try to replicate with this year’s team.
“You hope the girls going into those open spots will have the same kind of attitude,” he said. “We’re just trying to push them forward.”
District competition
This season, the Lady Panthers find themselves in a new district, with Georgetown and East View gone and replaced with Lockhart and Lehman.
However, defending state champions Cedar Park – who defeated Liberty Hill in last year’s regional finals – remain, although Lange doesn’t view the Timberwolves as the league favorite.
“I think Glenn is No. 1, then Cedar Park,” said Lange. “After that, it could be anybody.”
Lange added last season’s modest goal of simply making the playoffs with a No. 4 seed increased to something more as his team worked its way down the final stretch of the regular season.
“We had those two tough losses to Georgetown,” he said, of a 33-31 home overtime defeat to the Eagles and a 29-25 away setback to their nearby neighbors. “But,
(Top) Senior Abbie Billingsley (#12) got valuable experience during last season’s playoffs after stepping in for an injured starter. (Above) Sophomore point guard Gabby Mundy (#2) is the only returning starter from last season’s team that advanced to the Class 5A regional finals. PHOTOS BY ALEX RUBIO
when we beat Glenn the first time (a 41-24 road win over the Grizzlies) and we moved ahead of them into third place, it was like ‘Okay, it’s on now.’”
However, it was a victory even earlier on Lange highlighted as a turning point for what the Lady Panthers were truly capable of accomplishing.
“We went down to the Lake Travis tournament after we were already a couple games into district and we beat them,” he said, of a 40-31 win over the host Cavaliers. “They’re a strong (Class) 6A school – I think that sent a message that maybe we could do something.”
Looking back one last time
Lange said moving forward, he will always look back on last season as a truly special one.
“Last year was easily the most enjoyable of my career,” he said. “Nothing against the other teams I’ve had, but the relationships I had with those girls and how we had each other’s backs was special and better than any wins or losses. You’re asking young people to trust you and you’re trusting teenagers in return – it was a lot of fun and very rewarding for coaches and players.”
(Above) Whenever Liberty Hill’s football team takes the field, it brings with it a culture of excellence fueled by ambitious expectations and high standards – which usually leads to winning. (Below) Senior quarterback Reese Vickers (#16) has taken on more rushing responsibilities as the season has progressed giving the Panthers an additional threat out of the backfield. (Below right) Head Coach Kent Walker and his team have been on a mission to return to the Class 5A Division II state championship game. PHOTOS BY ALEX RUBIO
SPORTS Continuing a winning culture
Panthers football program on a never-ending mission
BY SCOTT AKANEWICH
SPORTS EDITOR
Once Liberty Hill was defeated in last season’s Class 5A Division II state championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, it didn’t take long for Panthers head coach Kent Walker to start thinking about next season.
“Maybe the next week,” said Walker. “Or on the ride home.”
The latter answer is more likely for a program that settles for nothing less than the highest of standards.
While other teams may be satisfied with merely a winning record or a playoff appearance, the Purple-and-Gold always has its sights set on a much loftier goal.
According to Walker, that mentality was instilled in the program by the man the field at Panther Stadium is now named for.
“All of that started with (former Liberty Hill head) Coach (Jerry) Vance,” said Walker, of the coach that led the Panthers to a pair of state championships in 2006 and 2007. “He established a culture here.”
It’s a mindset that has been carried on since Vance’s retirement following the 2016 season first by head coach Jeff Walker and now Kent Walker – but there’s more to it than that.
“We have great kids, great coaches and a great community,” he said. “All of them have bought into it.”
However, as Liberty Hill continues to grow by leaps and bounds, is there a danger of losing that all-important “small-town feel” element?
“Sure there is and it’s a scary thought,” said Walker. “But, regardless of how quickly or rapidly we keep growing, we’ll still always keep doing what’s best for the kids.”
This season, in order to test his team early during its quest for a return to the state title game, Walker scheduled perhaps the most difficult non-district slate the program has ever seen, including home games against Wagner of San Antonio and Georgetown and road contests versus Hutto and Rouse, with the Panthers winning three of four.
But, even in victories, Walker and his staff are never completely satisfied, which fuels the fire of constant improvement.
“You can always go back, look at film and see things we need to get better at,” he said. “We struggled early on in the year, but we’re a lot more confident now.”
After its first two seasons as a Class 5A program were spent in a non-competitive district, this season provided a fresh start – one that included district opposition that was a bit tougher, including a 56-49 home win over Veterans Memorial of San Antonio and a 35-14 road win against Lockhart.
But, for this team – and this program – the non-district and district portions of the schedule each year are simply a precursor to the postseason, where the stakes and the reward are exponentially higher.
“There’s always added pressure in the playoffs,” said Walker. “But, we still don’t deviate from our routine and what we do to get ready for games. Our players know the expectations and none of that changes.”
Keeping a razor-sharp focus on the job at hand from day to day is critical, with no thoughts of what lies ahead – only what is right in front of you at the moment.
“Distractions are the enemy of greatness,” said Walker. “We don’t talk about winning a state championship. All we do is work hard to get better every day and when you do that, the rest usually takes care of itself.”
So, at season’s end this year – whenever that may be – Walker said he’ll be happy under one condition.
“We want to win every game, but winning isn’t the end-all, be-all,” he said. “We can be frustrated with the outcome, but if our kids give it all they have and play the game the right way, that’s what really matters.”
