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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, February 6, 2020 Section B Page 1

Adjusting to a change in shape

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor After an appearance in the Class 4A state championship game last season, one might think Liberty Hill head girls’ soccer coach Darren Bauer would be happy to stand pat.

Think again.

Coming into this season, Bauer wanted to introduce an entirely new system for his players in order to not only match last season’s accomplishments, but eclipse them.

The Lady Panthers have gone from a traditional back four on defense and three midfielders to only three defenders with an extra player in the middle of the park.

According to Bauer, the reason behind the change was a numbers game.

“Usually, when we would be up against a good team, it would be three against three in the midfield and whoever was better on the day would win out,” said Bauer. “So, we decided to add an extra midfielder in order to outnumber the other team and gain an advantage by overloading the middle and putting stress on them with something they couldn’t handle.”

At the halfway point of the season entering district play, suffice to say it’s worked like a charm.

Liberty Hill has scored 45 goals though the first 11 games of the season, while conceding only five, with its only loss against perennial Class 5A powerhouse Highland Park of Dallas in a 1-0 affair at the Grizzly Classic in Leander.

Junior midfielder and team captain Abbey Janicek said she

Lady Panthers find success with new formation

SHANNON HOFMANN PHOTO

Freshman Kaylie Fowler (#9) has seven goals on the current campaign, using a combination of speed and skill in creating scoring opportunities. was initially apprehensive of two which can stay back and ly what we know she can, but to operate, while conversely, the new formation. help the defense,” she said. it’s really due to the success of subtracting a defender results “At first, I was nervous about “Most teams aren’t used to everyone around her because in having more ground to covit because we’ve never played seeing four in the midfield.” when others bring pressure, it er for the defense. three at the back before,” she Janicek anchors the Liberty opens things up and allows her But, his squad has indeed adsaid. “So, I’m surprised at how Hill midfield, along with soph- to have space to work in and justed well in both areas, said well it’s worked out. At first, it omore Emma Stephens and when that happens, they pull Bauer. seemed as if there were wide- juniors Mykenna Russo and defensive pressure off each “In the middle of the field, open gaps in our defense and Madi Fuller, a combination other.” there’s not as much room there was more space out wide that gives his side a bit of evRusso and Janicek provide where they move, so they can because our defenders were erything, said Bauer. the perfect compliment to really only take one or two more centralized.”

“Emma is the more at- Stephens’ playmaking ability, touches on the ball,” he said.

Having two pairs of midfield- tack-minded of the group said Bauer.

“But, I think the biggest chalers provides the Lady Panthers – she’s a perfectionist and I “Mykenna is more about con- lenge for us was for our dewith more flexibility both at- don’t see her slowing down,” trol,” he said. “While Abbey fenders getting used to it.” tacking and defending, said he said of Stephens, who has possesses the ball very well.”

Junior Bryden Bourgeois, Janicek. a team-leading 10 goals and However, adding an extra along with sophomores Alys“Now, we have two midfield- eight assists on the current player in the midfield means sa Lee and Katie Wilson form ers who can go forward and campaign. “She’s doing exact- each has less space in which the trio tasked with carrying

Setting the example Call to Leadership to ready next year’s seniors

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Next season will present a brand new challenge for the seniors on the Liberty Hill football team.

The Panthers will be competing in Class 5A for the first time in school history, which means the going could very well get rough for the Purpleand-Gold as they navigate the seas of a higher, more rugged classification.

So, a group of Liberty Hill football parents put a plan in motion to make sure the newest batch of Panthers is ready.

According to Aaron Amsler, who is part of the group, the idea for the Senior Call to Leadership event on Feb. 13 was carefully conceived before being brought to fruition.

“This idea spawned from conversations over the past 18 months by several of the dads in our community. A few months ago, we formed a committee of seven and held a breakfast meeting to gauge the interest level to move forward,” said Amsler. “The positive response was overwhelming, which ultimately led to conversations with Superintendent (Steve) Snell, Coach (Jeff) Walker and finally the Class of 2021 football parents. The committee included two parents of incoming juniors for next year, with the thought process these two parents could have a role in the planning of this event and hopefully continue the tradition forward in years to come.”

Liberty Hill head football Coach Jeff Walker is convinced the concept will help his squad move forward.

“I think it’s a great idea to help our seniors,” he said.

“We need to get our players motivated to become the leaders we expect them to

be – it’s the kind of thing we want our culture to be about.”

For now, the football team is the focus, but that doesn’t mean other sports won’t be involved in the future, said Amsler.

“Simply put, our kids play football -- almost exclusively -- among the 32 incoming seniors,” he said. “We have no idea to what degree this event can grow in future years. Down the road, we would be delighted to see as many school organizations as possible participate in events for incoming seniors.”

Walker said the reason now is the time to host an event such as this is due to the fact the new season will roll around in the fall before anybody realizes.

“Six months will come and go really fast,” he said. “So, if we don’t have enough of a buy-in from our seniors, it could be difficult. You win games in the spring – we just can’t show up in August.”

Amsler pointed out the time line next year’s seniors are already on is a catalyst for the event to happen sooner rather than later.

“Our young men who are juniors this school year essentially became seniors when the scoreboard clock read 0:00 in the regional final loss to Lampasas,” he said. “Offseason is in full swing in getting ready for next fall. Once August arrives, these young men begin their final campaign as Liberty Hill Panthers.”

There will be 32 seniors next season compared to only 14 this year, so a focus on properly developing them is of the utmost importance, said Walker.

“We have a lot of talented

See SENIORS, Page B4

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Bobby Mundy (#11) worked his way up to the varsity from the JV squad.

Players must prove they’re worthy of varsity

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor One look at the Liberty Hill varsity roster these days and there are plenty of players who worked their respective ways up the ranks.

Kadin Knight, Hunter Clayton, Collin Lyons and Bobby Mundy are some of the current Panthers who played for varsity assistant and head junior varsity Coach Blake Boren.

According to Boren, players must prove themselves in a number of ways before being promoted to the varsity.

“They have to keep getting better as their bodies are going through changes,” said Boren.

“Also, we look for who has good leadership qualities.”

One aspect of coaching and bringing along budding varsity players is a tolerance level when things don’t go exactly as planned on the court, he said.

“I think at the junior varsity level, you have to allow for more mistakes,” said Boren.

“Things like taking a bad shot, for example – it’s something you might get taken out of the game at the varsity level.”

How the players carry themselves at all times is also taken into consideration, he said.

“We believe all our players are good kids,” said Boren. “They have to make sure everything’s right in the classroom and stay out of trouble.”

On the court, as the players progress through the system, more and more responsibility is placed on their shoulders to ready them for what lies ahead, he said “We add more plays into what we’re doing,” said Boren. “The ultimate goal is still to win.”

A meritocracy exists within the framework of the team, which means if you find yourself on the court, you’ve certainly earned the right to be there, he said.

“We’re never going to lose a game just to play everybody,” said Boren. “Once you get to the high school level, you always play to win.”

Recently, junior guard AJ Garza was recalled from the JV and will remain on the varsity squad for the balance of the season.

“AJ was the only junior on the JV,” said Boren. “He’s going to be our point guard on the Gold Squad – up until now, we’ve had a makeshift point guard, so this will add to our depth.”

Aside from the Xs and Os, perhaps the most critical aspect of assessing whether a player is ready for varsity is psychological, he said.

“You have to be bought-in to our program,” said Boren. “No matter what your playing time is. Sometimes, it’s hard to get them to buy in, but we want players who believe in our program.”

out the new strategy and are all ironically, converted midfielders, which also means they’re more versatile than your typical defense and mesh perfectly with his on-field philosophy, said Bauer.

“I look at defense differently than most coaches,” he said.

“Of course, they need to be good defenders, but I also want them to be good all-around players who can be creative going forward.”

Expanded vision of the field and a grasp of where to be at the right time is also critical to the back line’s success, said Bauer.

“They need to have an understanding and be able to see the game and focus on different areas because we leave a lot of space for the other team to move in knowing we have the capability to close it down,” he said.

Sam Carter has been a rock in goal for Liberty Hill, as the dependable junior shot-stopper has posted seven shutouts on the season and carries a sparkling 0.50 gaols-against-average.

Currently, the Lady Panthers have a record of 7-1-3 and have certainly met their coach’s preseason expectations, if not exceeded them, said Bauer.

“We’re at about where I hoped we would be,” he said. “Sometimes, we play better than others, but with the new tactics and formation, that’s to be expected.”

Included across the first half of the season has been the buyin process his squad needed to go though before they could

See CHANGE, Page B4

Page B2

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Panther powerlifting team puts strength on display

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor There’s a place behind the scenes at Liberty Hill High School far from the spotlight.

Nowhere near the end zone, the basket or home plate.

The weight room.

Where Purple-and-Gold athletes grunt and grimace while pushing, pulling and lifting immense amounts of iron to ready them for their respective sports.

However, for one group of Panthers, lifting is their form of competition.

The Liberty Hill powerlifting team is comprised of individuals -- some of whom participate in other sports, as well -- but when united, form a powerful squad of determined athletes who never say never and are always striving to reach that next level in the form of a new personal best.

According to sophomore Will Beckford, the sport of powerlifting offers him a unique opportunity.

“I wanted a challenge,” said Beckford, who was a regional qualifier last season and competes in the 148-pound division.

“A couple of friends suggested I get into it.”

Powerlifting competitions combine three different disciplines – squat, bench and deadlift – the totals of which are added together for an aggregate score.

But, it’s about more than simply outlifting your opponents – it’s about improving yourself, said Beckford.

“I think lifting helps me get better as a person,” he said. “A lot of the principles involved with being a good lifter you can apply to life.”

Head Coach Rudy Acevedo has always

See LIFTING, Page B4 Taylor Sims recently set a new personal best of 765 pounds at the Burnet Invitational.

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

SHANNON HOFMANN PHOTO

Jaron Frye (#10) has the speed and skill to weave past defenders without losing control of the ball.

Panthers’ striker fills the net for fun

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor If there’s one thing Jaron Frye knows how to do, it’s put a soccer ball into a net.

Ever since he was a lad in his native Haiti, he’s had a ball at his feet – but not for long, as it usually ends up behind a beaten goalkeeper.

“Where I was from, it was all about soccer,” said Frye, a Liberty Hill junior striker, who leads the club with 22 goals on the current campaign. “Everybody there plays soccer.”

In 2016, Frye was adopted by his parents, Randle and Minon Frye and brought his considerable skills to Liberty Hill, where he’s been a fixture on the Panthers’ front line and a regular on the scoresheet, posting 31 and 33 goals in his first two seasons in Purpleand-Gold.

According to head Coach Wayne Munger, Frye is indeed a special talent.

“From a coaching standpoint, Jaron’s a once-in-a-career athlete,” said Munger. “With all the natural skill he has, he’s really been able to make his mark.”

Munger said upon Frye’s arrival as a freshman, he was unrefined like a diamond in the rough, but once polished has now become a multi-dimensional player.

“He was very direct toward goal his first year,” he said.

“But, ever since, he’s had to adapt to his teammates and step up his game.”

Has he ever.

In his first season, Frye supplied only six assists, but last year collected eight and this season already has nine, which makes him as dangerous a playmaker as he is a finisher.

“When I start scoring I can draw the defense to me, which opens up opportunities for my teammates,” said Frye.

One thing Frye has in abundance is speed, but not only without the ball – also with it, having the ability to weave his way through defenders while maintaining control before dishing off to a teammate or firing a shot on goal himself, which makes him even more dangerous on the attack, said Munger.

“He has the skill to be able to find open spaces and has many ways to beat a team,” he said.

Something else Frye has going for him is an unmatched desire to continue getting better.

“I wake up every morning and want to keep working hard,” said Frye. “It’s really important for me to get better.”

This part of Frye’s game is beneficial to his teammates intangibly, said Munger.

“The energy and passion he brings to the game definitely rubs off on the other guys,” he said. “He knows the expectations we have here and we know he’s an incredible player.”

However, regardless of skill, Frye fits in with his teammates in a mutually-beneficial way, said Munger.

“Jaron’s still only one player on our team,” he said. “But, when you have that kind of talent and drive, you can benefit the entire program by playing at a higher speed and with intelligence.”

Frye has designs on professional soccer when his days at Liberty Hill are done and his coach believes he has what it takes to play at that level.

“Given the right people around him, he can go as far as his talent can take him,” said Munger. “We’re going to make sure he gets every opportunity to achieve his goals.”

Frye lived in an orphanage in Haiti and said his adopted parents would visit him often during the course of the time it took for the adoption process to come to fruition. Once it finally happened, it was like a dream come true, he said.

“It was incredible and I couldn’t believe it,” said Frye.

“All of it was definitely God’s work.”

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

New district, new challenges for Liberty Hill ISD sports

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Well, Pantherville, we were handed the “envelope, please,” as they say at award shows on Feb. 3 when the UIL released its new district alignments and were altogether pleased and perplexed at the same time.

On one hand, we have the new Class 5A Region 4 District 25, which includes Liberty Hill along with all of our closest neighbors in the two Georgetown schools (Georgetown and East View), all three Leander schools (Leander, Rouse and Glenn) and last, but certainly not least, Marble Falls.

Of course that’s for everything but football.

The new gridiron landscape for the Purple-and-Gold is another matter altogether.

Four schools from the big, bad city (Austin) including Crockett, McCallum, Navarro, Northeast and Travis, along with once again Marble Falls comprise Region 4 District 14.

We knew the days of the Panthers lining up against historic rivals such as Lampasas and Burnet were over, but we were certainly hoping to still have “one-horse town” matchups against places who also have only one high school.

There’s something to be said about an entire town getting behind one school and one only.

What kind of history is there between Liberty Hill and any of the above-mentioned Austin schools?

Of course, enrollment-wise, it makes sense and even geographically, as well.

But, is anyone going to get fired up about playing these teams?

Compare that to the buzz when it was game day against the likes of the Bulldogs or Badgers to get the blood boiling.

Okay, we get it.

Liberty Hill continues to grow while many of our more rural neighbors aren’t, so a move up in Class is understandable, but having to fight dreadful Austin traffic on a late Friday afternoon is enough to send shivers up one’s spine.

Plenty of taillights before the Friday Night Lights, indeed.

However, one aspect we do like is the much shorter (if not more congested) road trips.

Burger Stadium in Austin is one of the three venues the new district schools in the capitol call home and it’s only 37 miles from downtown Liberty Hill.

No more 160-mile round trips to places like Canyon Lake or Fredericksburg, so at

least we have that going for us.

As far as competition level goes, the Panthers won’t be tested anymore than they have been in recent years in district play, 5A or no 5A. In fact, the six new district opponents combined for a 1546 record this past football season, with McCallum’s 5-6 mark the best of the bunch.

So, instead of the challenge of a more difficult district to prepare them for the playoffs, head Coach Jeff Walker has gone out and recruited a rugged pre-district slate, which includes Class 6A Killeen Ellison and Del Valle, along with fellow 5A school Georgetown and 4A LBJ, who combined to go 24-19 this season.

Only time will tell how the Panthers fare against such competition.

But, let’s get down to the real nitty-gritty, shall we?

Mascots.

Anyone who reads this column regularly knows we’re a big proponent of the Big, Black Panther the players run through out onto the field, so let’s compare what kind of competition said Panther will have with the new opposition.

In no particular order, we have Raiders (Northeast), Knights (McCallum), Vikings (Navarro), Rebels (Travis), Cougars (Crockett) and Mustangs (Marble Falls).

Based on the records of these squads last season, Northeast didn’t do much raiding, McCallum had no shiny armor, Navarro were anything but Norsemen, Travis fell to the First Order, Crockett didn’t remember The Alamo and Marble Falls failed to run free.

Big Black Panther and Prowler, his human-sized alter-ego, are licking their lips (if Panthers have lips) in anticipation of feasting on these second-rate sidekicks.

So, now that we’ve vented our angst about the Panthers’

new football fellowship, let’s praise the new basketball and volleyball opponents.

In world football (soccer, as the Yanks call it), when two clubs from the same area face one another, it’s known as a “derby.”

Some of the more famous are found in places like Manchester and Madrid, to name only a few.

Well, now every basketball game and volleyball match for Liberty Hill will be a local derby of sorts, matching up against the Georgetown and Leander schools, along with Cedar Park.

Short road trips and long memories, which are two of the most important ingredients for a rivalry.

Out with Burnet and Lampasas -- in with Glenn, Rouse and East View.

Sounds like a plan.

One thing’s for sure, though.

Gone are the days when the Panthers will easily glide through district play as no more than a glorified practice on the way to the postseason and that’s a good thing.

For example, the girls’ (16-0) and boys’ (8-0) soccer squads beat down Florence by a combined 24-0 last week, which probably won’t be the case facing the new opposition, which will only make the Panthers stronger come playoff time.

Going from the big fish in the small pond to the small fish in a large one will certainly present its fair share of challenges for Liberty Hill, but with the solid foundation the entire athletic program is built upon, we have no doubt the Purple-andGold will still reign supreme on more occasions than not.

Progress has finally pushed the Panthers into uncharted territory, so now we’ll see how they react.

Our educated prediction is just fine.

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Thursday, February 6, 2020

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page B3

Practice makes perfect for Panthers

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Two entire teams of basketball players flood the court in the main gym at Liberty Hill High School on a typical afternoon.

The Lady Panthers’ varsity and junior varsity squads are practicing together with one at each end of the court for some drills and mingling during others.

According to head Coach Chris Lange, it’s all about being able to see how particular players work together for the betterment of the entire program.

“What that allows us to do is to look at different combinations,” said Lange. “It gives us a different perspective and we can get more kids on the court.”

Mixed practices also provide a platform for junior varsity player to test their mettle against the big girls, he said.

“They can show the coaches they can play against the other girls,” said Lange. “Maybe they can get moved up.”

An example of a player who

has risen to the occasion is Ashlyn Calhoun, who has been added to the varsity roster for the second round of district play.

“Ashlyn is someone we had on the JV and took her with us to tournaments earlier in the season,” said Lange. “She’s starting to work her way in while she’s trying to learn and do all the little things.”

Lange said he likes to mix up the practice routine so it doesn’t get routine.

“We want to keep the players’ brains fresh,” he said.

An example of this is something called “seven-minute free-throws,” during which each player must hit a certain amount of shots from the line – and missing has consequences.

“You’re running no matter what,” said Lange. “It puts pressure on players to make shots.”

Adding to the degree of difficulty for the drill is the fact there are as many as three players all shooting at the same basket at the same time, which suits some players more than others, he said.

“Taylor (Swieczkowski) is really good at it,” said Lange.

“She’s hit as many as 32 before.”

Lange said focusing on the upcoming opponent is something the Lady Panthers do – but only to a certain extent.

“We don’t let it dictate practice – what happens during the game usually does that,” he said. “But, at this point in the season, we’re concentrating on the team that’s next.”

However, sometimes all the advance study backfires.

During a 41-31 road victory over Lampasas on Jan. 31, the Badgers came out in an unfamiliar defense against the Lady Panthers, at which point in-game adjustments had to be ALEX RUBIO PHOTO made, said Lange.

Regan Walker (#3) adds a spark for the Lady Panthers off the bench with excellent ball handling “They came out in a 1-3-1 and the ability to run the fl oor and drive the lane with authority. on us,” he said. “Usually, they play a 2-3 defense, but we ers you can’t let her do this or “There has to be a balance,” love/hate relationship with weren’t worried so much.” that, like get open for threes,” said Lange. “You have to still practice,” said Lange. “EspeWhen a particularly danger- said Lange. “But, if you have go out and be who you are.” cially at this point in the seaous individual is looming on four, five or six girls on the One thing Lange must con- son when you’ve been doing the schedule, a designated other team who can shoot, then stantly guard against as the the same thing every day for player will simulate her in it’s different.” team works its way toward the five months. But, we want practice.

But, one can’t put too much end of the season is compla- them to keep getting better at “We’ll put a practice jersey emphasis on the opposition, he cency, he said. what we’re trying to do.” on someone and tell our play- said.

“I think our players have a

LHHS prevails over Salado in hotly-contested game

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Emma Hubbard had a very worried look on her face after getting tangled up with an opponent early on in Liberty Hill’s district contest against Salado on Tuesday, motioning to the bench her right knee was injured.

However, the sophomore center returned to the court after some repairs and led the Lady Panthers to a 44-41 home victory over the Eagles, with nine points, six rebounds and four blocks.

According to Hubbard, it was sweet revenge for her and her teammates after losing the district opener on the Eagles’ home court by a score of 62-48 on Jan. 17.

“After the game we could hear them yelling in their locker room because it was right next to ours,” said Hubbard. “So, all that did was give us more motivation to win.”

Most of the contest was dead even, as both sides were determined to gain the upper hand in the district standings.

The sides traded 6-0 runs to begin the game before Regan Walker hit a bucket to leave the game level at 8-8 after the first quarter.

After Olivia Shelton scored to open the second stanza, Salado hit back with six consecutive points by junior forward Lorena Perez to open up a 14-10 advantage.

But, Kenzy Wise scored on a fast break off a pass from Baylee Laird, before Laird hit a three the next time down the court to restore the Lady Panthers’ lead 14-12.

The sides continued to go at it evenly and the score was tied at the half, 20-20.

Laird picked right up where she left off when the third period began, taking a hard charge at one end of the court, then draining a three at the other and Wise scored six points in the quarter as the Lady Panthers held a slim 31-30 lead after three.

Salado looked as if they had solved the home side’s defense

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Emma Hubbard (#25) scored nine points in the Lady Panthers’ 44-40 home victory against Salado on Tuesday. with a 7-0 run to begin the or have a coin flip to determine fourth for a 38-31 lead, all sup- a winner. plied by senior forward Kaia Head Coach Chris Lange was Philen, who scored a game- pleased with how Hubbard rehigh 17 points. sponded in such a big game.

But, Avery Harrell dribbled “We challenged Emma benearly the length of the court, fore the game to step up, give weaving her way in between us more than she has been and and around defenders for a do something,” said Lange. layup, which was followed by “She toughed it out and came a Taylor Swieczkowski bucket through for us at the end.” on a pretty give-and-go to cut Hubbard said the injury was the lead to three at 38-35 with a possible hyper-extension af3:58 left. ter a collision with a Salado After Laird had scored again, player.

Hubbard then showed the kind For her, she was happy to of grit and determination a post have gotten the victory. player needs, as she fought “When the game ended, it for a rebound underneath and was just a big relief,” she said. drew a foul, tying the score at “I felt so proud of our team.”

38-38 with a free throw.

Laird led the Lady Panthers After the visitors had once with 10 points, in addition again regained the lead, Jessi- to Hubbard’s nine to go with ca Holliday hit a pair of free eight from Wise and seven throws before it was Hubbard from Holliday on the game. who once again asserted herLange added the urgency with self with a pair of free throws which both teams played was a to make it 42-40 with only factor in the outcome.

43.6 seconds left.

“We were playing to take first All Salado could do after that place and they were playing to was foul Holliday, who sealed hold onto it,” he said. “We’ll the game with another two take a day off tomorrow and points. get back to work.”

Liberty Hill and Salado are Liberty Hill (19-14, 7-1) will now both tied atop the district next host Eastside Memorial standings, each with 7-1 re- on Friday at 6:15 p.m. Before cords and have split the two closing the regular season with games with one another. If a road game against Taylor on both win out, they would either Feb. 11. play again for the district title

Freshman Patrick Fay and sister senior Lorelei Fay finished third in mixed doubles’ at the Llano tournament Jan. 29.

(Courtesy Photo)

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Carson Perkins (#4) led Liberty Hill with 33 points in a 74-54 home victory against Salado on Feb. 4.

Panthers take revenge against Salado

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Last time Liberty Hill and Salado met on a basketball court, tempers flared during a heated exchange between the respective coaching staffs after a 70-62 Eagles win on Jan. 17.

So, this time around, the Panthers were taking no s with any possible game-ending controversy with a convincing 74-54 home victory.

Carson Perkins led Liberty Hill with 33 points, including five 3-pointers and a perfect 6-of-6 performance from the free-throw line.

“We came out motivated,” said Perkins. “We knew we had to beat them.”

Liberty Hill was on it from the get-go, building as much as a 12-3 right out of the gate, as Kadin Knight hit the first two baskets of the evening, followed a Waker Baty score sandwiched in between threes from Perkins, who poured in 10 points in the opening quarter, as the Panthers led 18-11 after one period.

Walker Weems took a cue from Perkins and drained back-to-back 3-pointers to open the second quarter, the

second of which was after Knight had gained a gritty rebound and passed the ball to the perimeter, where the sophomore forward was waiting, making the score 24-11.

Perkins continued to have his way with the Salado defense, while Baty scored six points in the period, including one on a nice dish from Perkins and it was a 35-16 in favor of Liberty Hill lead at the half.

The Panthers poured it on even more in the third, as Knight and Perkins each hit a three in helping the hosts outscore the visitors by a 17-15 margin on the way to a 52-33 advantage after three.

Baty, who had 18 points in the game, then really went to work in the fourth quarter, as the 6-foot-5, 260-pound center received the ball down low time and again, banging his way to the basket, scoring 10 points in the period and helping finish off the Eagles once and for all.

Knight added 10 points in the victory.

Perkins said there wasn’t much the Salado defense could do against him once he got going.

“At times like that, I feel like

nobody can stop me,” he said.

“My confidence just skyrockets.”

As for his team’s outlook as they head down the stretch of the regular season, the senior point guard knows what lies ahead.

“I felt like going to Salado was going to be our toughest game,” said Perkins. “Next, we have to win on the road and they’ll be tough games for us.”

Liberty Hill (22-7, 5-1) is atop the district standings with the win and will next host Eastside Memorial on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Followed by road contests against second-place Taylor and Burnet before closing out the regular season with a home game against Lampasas on Feb. 18.

LHHS 62, Lampasas 50 Perkins scored 19 points and in a 62-50 Liberty Hill road victory against Lampasas on Jan. 31.

Baty added 17 points and Kaleb Bannon 12 in a game the Panthers led by a score of 32-19 at halftime on the way to victory.

Liberty Hill Tennis Briefs

The Liberty Hill tennis squad played in Llano Jan. 29 to face Class 3A and 2A opposition a week after playing in Bastrop against Class 6A and 5A teams.

Included was defending Class 3A champion Mason, who the Panthers were pleased to be able to play, said Liberty Hill head Coach Philip Dodd.

“We go to this tournament just to get to play Mason which are better than most 4A, 5A, and 6A teams,” he said. “We played against them nine times in different events and won five of the nine. Last year I think we only won twice

against them, so I’m happy with the better results.”

Several Liberty Hill players stepped up, but the biggest win was sophomores Eliza Homorodi and Colin Garner defeating fellow Panthers and seniors Lauren Crow and Tyler Franklin in the mixed doubles finals.

In addition, sophomore Kylie Harlow was down 7-4 in the consolation finals to Mason and came back to win the last five games in earning her first varsity medal.

Dodd is pleased with the progress of his team at this early point of the season.

“I’m still switching it up getting ready for district and regional competitions and the kids are responding well no matter who and what they’re playing each week,” he said.

“It’s nice to go to tournaments and everyone is playing three or four matches, because they’ve all made the semifinals/, if not the finals -- that’s how we get better, more match play.”

Liberty Hill will next play in Robinson on Feb. 7.

Llano tournament results Girls’ singles 1st place - Sophie Sherman def. Maddy Heath (state cham-

pion 2A Mason) 4-6, 6-0, 10-5, finals; def. Cassidy Sudekum, Liberty Hill, 6-1, 6-2, semifinals; def. Mia Kilman, San Saba, 8-1, quarterfinals; def.

Alexa Goff, Llano, 8-0 first round 3rd place – Ava Ortega def. Cassidy Sudekum, Liberty Hill, 8-1, 3rd place match; lost to Maddy Heath, Mason, 7-5, 6-1, semifinals; def. Marina Kingery, 8-1, quarterfinals 4th place – Cassidy Sudekum lost to Ava Ortega, 3rd place match; lost to Sofie Sherman,

See TENNIS, Page B4

Page B4

LIFTING

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Continued from Page B2

had an affinity for the lifting of iron, he said.

“I’ve always been a big fan of the weight room,” said Acevedo, who is also an assistant football coach and is currently in his third season leading the Panthers. “I love watching kids and I always wanted to give it a try and take this program to the next level.”

Taylor Sims is a track athlete who participates in the shot put and discus, and said being involved in powerlifting helps improve her throwing skills.

“Definitely, it improves my strength in throwing,” she said. “Both require proper technique.”

Sims, who was also a regional qualifier last season, began competing in powerlifting as a freshman and got into the sport in a rather casual way, she said.

“I wasn’t really planning on it, but I just tried it out and liked it,” said Sims. “I like competing against other people as well as myself.”

At the recent meet in Burnet, Sims achieved new personal bests of 315 pounds in the squat, 145 in bench and 305 in deadlift, for a total of 765 pounds.

However, for her, new personal bests are great, but not as meaningful as winning.

“Personal bests are reward-

ing,” she said. “But, winning is more important when you have other people in front of you.”

In order to strive for higher goals, one must be willing to venture into uncharted territory, said Beckford.

“Our sport really takes a lot of effort,” he said. “You have to get out of your comfort zone.”

Despite the fact powerlifting is an individual sport, there is still a definite team dynamic, said Beckford.

“You always have to be there for your teammates,” he said.

“Even something like wrapping each other’s knees before the squat – if you know you have others behind you, it’s easier to lift more.”

Acevedo said the kind of lifting his athletes do differs from bodybuilding.

“There are different ways to go to the gym,” he said. “Some people go to look good or to simply shape and tone. But, as a powerlifter, you’re looking to add strength, not size.”

Acevedo cited something known as tensile strength – which is the measurement of force required to pull something to the point where it breaks -- in assessing the abilities of his lifters, but added the mental side of the sport is as critical as the physical.

SENIORS

Continued from Page B1

CHANGE

Continued from Page B1

kids and we want to do what’s best for them,” he said. “Not only on the field, but we want all our players to be leaders in the community and in life – it’s all part of the culture we’re trying to establish.”

Players from below the high school level will also be involved in the festivities, which is crucial for the future development of youth players who will one day be Panthers, said Amsler.

“Our football family encompasses not only the high school football players, but also the

truly embrace the new way of doing things.

“At the beginning, they were unsure of it,” said Bauer. “But, now that they’ve gotten into a groove of playing the new way, they’re seeing the passing lanes – it’s a much more dynamic system.”

Janicek said new system aside, she and her teammates have progressed toward their lofty state title aspirations.

“I think we’ve reached all of our goals so far this season,” she said.

A 2-2 home draw on Jan. 21 against defending Class 4A state champions Stephenville – the same side the Lady Panthers were defeated by in last season’s title game – was a turning point for the team, said Janicek.

“Going into that game, I was very nervous and expected us to lose,” she said. “But, I think Stephenville thought it was going to be easy because they beat us before.”

The Lady Panthers came out flying and took a 2-0 lead on first-half goals by Russo and Piper Tabor, only to be eventually pegged back by the visitors.

Despite letting the game slip away, Janicek said the result was still a shot in the arm.

“Even though we didn’t win, it gave us a huge boost in confidence,” she said. “Especially in the first half – that was our moment.”

In addition to the 2-0 loss in

junior high and youth football organizations,” he said. “We all remember those Friday Night heroes we watched as youngsters and we want the entire Liberty Hill football family in attendance to support and bear witness to this event.”

Amsler said if there’s one thing he wants the players to take away from the event, it’s the idea of the power of strong leadership and the effect it has on others.

“Positive leadership and the value it serves,” he said. “Not

the title game to the Honeybees, the Lady Panthers had also been defeated by them, 3-0 in an away contest on Feb. 5.

“I think the girls were just happy to finally score on them,” said Bauer. “They proved to themselves they could play with them and they know they should’ve won.”

Perhaps the level scoreline was exactly what his side needed in its quest for gold at the end of the season, he said.

“I’m glad we got a draw,” said Bauer. “Because we’re probably going to see them again, so maybe it lit a fire in our players.”

Bauer also cited a dominant 2-0 home victory against Class 5A Cedar Park on Jan. 24 as another signpost on the road to success.

“Our confidence from the Stephenville game definitely carried over to Cedar Park,” he said. “It’s really fun to see the players gain confidence and understand what we’re working on.”

Janicek agreed the pair of positive results have been a springboard for the entire squad.

“In both of those games, you could really see us coming together as a team,” she said.

“Last year, we had different groups on the team, but this season we all have a much better understanding between all of us.”

A big part of the renewed ened 3X Awaurd nity Comm Year of the

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Thursday, February 6, 2020

“There’s a huge mental aspect,” he said. “A lot of time, someone thinks the amount they’re trying to lift is going to be too heavy for them, but you just have to push through it and try. Most people end up lifting more than they think they can.”

One of the aspects of powerlifting which is most appealing to him is the fact all different sizes of athletes can compete against similar competition due to the division of weight classes, which levels the playing field, said Acevedo.

“For example, football players need to be a certain size to be able to compete,” he said.

“But, in lifting you’re always matched up against other athletes of the same weight.”

Acevedo said Sims is a classic example of the grit and determination required to be a good lifter.

“Taylor’s very dedicated to what she does,” he said. “I told her we were going to start this season squatting 315 pounds and when she finally did it, you should’ve seen the look in her eyes.”

Achieving something one initially thinks isn’t possible is one of the most gratifying aspects of the sport, said Acevedo.

“What that does is show we can teach kids to push beyond

barriers and their mental re- Competition is when all of the worked,” he said. “There’s no striction,” he said. “The big- blood, sweat and tears come to way to get around the fact if gest opponent is the mind.” fruition, said Acevedo. you don’t put the time in, it’s Beckford agreed.

“When you compete at a meet, going to show -- the biggest “I think it’s about 50-50 it shows how hard you’ve opponent is yourself.” mental and physical,” he said.

“You can’t let yourself get psyched out if you’re going to Continued from Page B3 be successful.” semifinals; def. Parker Stan- 4th place – Will Gray/Abby Beckford added the higher dard, Mason, 8-3, quarterfinals Gates lost to Fay/Fay, 3rd a lifter’s personal best gets, 1st consolation – Kylie Har- place match; lost to Franklin/ the more incremental the im- low def. Parker Standard, Ma- Crow, semifinals; def. Delgaprovements will be, but that son, consolation finals, 9-7; do/Petty, Sonora, 8-6, quardoesn’t mean it’s any less sat- def. Delaney Ellis, San Saba, terfinals; def. McDaniel/Leon, isfying. consolations semifinals, 8-0; Brady, 8-1, first round “My goal is always to get a lost to Maddy Health, Mason, Boys’ singles better total,” he said. “Every 8-3, first round 1st place – Ethan Wukasch time I go out there.”

Mixed Doubles def. Victor Patino, San Saba, Proper technique is para- 1st place – Colin Garner/Eli- 3-6, 3-0, retired injury finals; mount to maximizing one’s za Homorodi def. Franklin/ def. Cutter Daniels, San Saba, accomplishments, something Crow, 9-8, in finals; def. Fay/ 6-0, 6-1, semifinals; def. Rejan he learned the hard way, said Fay, 8-3, semifinals; def. Grin- Chantel, Del Valle, 8-5, quarBeckford. teinmer/Regan Brady, 8-1, terfinals “Last year, I didn’t have very quarterfinals; def. Sandoval/ Boys’ doubles good technique,” he said. “I Vasquez, Del Valle 8-3, first 2nd place – Ethan Warwas using all back and I was round rington/Zach Kizer lost to always very sore after a meet. 2nd place – Tyler Franklin/ Kerr/Shultz, Mason, 6-1, But, now I’ve learned a lot Lauren Crow lost to Garner/ 6-3, finals; def. Spencer/ more like using your abs to Homorodi, 9-8, finals; def. Ahlschwede, Mason, 6-2, 6-3, help with the squat.”

Gray/Gates, semifinals, 8-4; semifinals; def. Luna/ Luna, Beckford said aggressiveness def. Spencer/Ake, Mason ,8-3, San Saba, 8-0, quarterfinals is of the utmost. quarterfinals Girls’ doubles “In order to be a good lifter, 3rd place – Patrick Fay/ 3rd place – Mackenzie Coleyou need to be a go-getter,” he Lorelei Fay def. Gray/Gates, man/Ava Enstrom def. Johnsaid. “You have to put every- 8-3, 3rd place match; lost to son/Luna, Ssan Saba, 8-0, 3rd thing out there.”

Garner/Homorodi, semifinals; place match; lost to Palacios/ Sims seconded her team- def. Bowman/Vines, San Saba, Canfield, Mason, 6-3, 6-1 in mate’s opinion. quarterfinals 8-0; def. Gay- semifinals; def. Jimenez/Ow“Powerlifting takes a lot of tan/Gamez, Sonora, 8-1, first ens, San Saba, 8-0, quarterfidetermination,” she said. “You round nals need a drive to be better.”

only in one’s life, but those around you who look to you for it.”

Next year’s seniors need to realize the opportunity which is before them, grasp it and make the most of it, as it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance, said Amsler.

“We, as parents and a community, hope our young men come to a realization this is their high school ‘moment in time’ to lead,” he said. “All eyes look to them for leadership within our community’s football programs. Whether

they understand that now -- we hope after this event -- each of these young men understands the impact they have on each other, their schoolmates and certainly our community’s youth. As Liberty Hill embarks on its first campaign in 5A football, leadership from the next senior class becomes ever more critical. We also want to take this time and celebrate their efforts thus far in life and encourage them as they conclude their time at Liberty Hill High School.”

Amsler and the committee

members hope the event will bring forth the inspiration the players need to succeed across the board – far beyond the gridiron, he said.

“We believe this Senior Call to Leadership event helps solidify the moment in time for these young men,” said Amsler. “Leadership from these young men is imperative in the success they enjoy not only on the football field, but most importantly, the success they generate in the game of life.”

For Walker, it’s about main-

taining positive momentum as the program embarks on a new chapter.

“We want to carry on traditions, get back to being a power in 5A and make our mark,” he said. “We have a lot of great young men who struggle with being leaders, so we want to get everyone involved and excited.”

The event is scheduled for Feb. 13 at Panther Stadium at 6:30 p.m.

thusiasm has been an injection of youth into the squad with a promising group of freshmen who have already begun to make an impact – not the least of which is rookie striker Kaylie Fowler, who is second to Stephens in scoring with seven goals, including a four-goal performance in a 19-0 victory against Jarrell in the district opener and a hat trick in a 6-0 win over Copperas Cove, utilizing blinding speed with mesmerizing skill.

“Kaylie has realized what her role is,” said Bauer. “For our strikers, it’s not only about scoring goals – she knows part of her job is to draw defenders to her which opens up room for her teammates and she’s taken to it very well.”

Kassidy Contreras, Ellie Thompson and Bella Jaimez are also among the first-year players who are contributing, said Bauer.

“All of them have done a good job at learning our tactics and formations,” he said.

“But, even players like Alyssa (Lee), Bryden (Bourgeois) and Katie (Wilson) who have been here are in different positions because we’ve moved so many people around.”

Due to the fact the Lady Panthers are rarely tested during district play, they must somehow find a way to remain focused when the pressure and intensity ratchets up come playoff time, said Bauer.

“What’s great about our team

is they all have such a strong mental side to their game,” he said. “When the games get tough, they know how to switch over and when we have easy games, they remain mentally focused.”

Although the squad has no seniors on the roster, there is certainly no lack of leadership, including captains Janicek, Bourgeois and Madi Fuller – who are all juniors, but it doesn’t stop there, said Bauer.

“We have three captains,” he said.”But we really have 10 or 12 leaders out there.

Janicek backed up the sentiment.

“I think everyone has stepped up,” she said. “It’s going to be difficult to only pick three captains next season with all the

good sophomores we have this year.”

The season began with the Panther Cup – an event designed to test the Lady Panthers right out of the gate with a home tournament featuring rugged competition including the likes of Midlothian Heritage, who is ranked in the top 15 of Class 4A – a weekend during which they came away with two wins and a pair of draws over the three days.

Janicek attributed the strong showing for propelling her and her teammates forward with a renewed sense of focus on the prize at the end of the road.

“I think that was when our players realized how big a deal it is for us to win a state title,” she said.

Bauer stopped short of considering anything short of a championship this season as a failure, saying instead his focus will be on the effort level of his team – regardless of results.

“One of the biggest takeaways from our losses at state the past few years has been how hard we played in those games,” he said. “Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. But if we did everything we could to win, I’m happy.”

Still, the anticipation will continue to rise the closer the Lady Panthers get to an opportunity to go one step further this season, said Bauer.

“I’m excited to see what we can do the rest of the year,” he said. “Our goal is gold.”

TENNIS

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PUBLIC NOTICES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Bartlett Cocke General contractors, Construction Manager-at-Risk, for: New Middle School - Bid Package 1, is requesting competitive proposals from subcontractors and suppliers. Bid Package 1 only consists of: Concrete, Masonry, Steel, Elevator, Plumbing, Electrical and Exterior Improvements. Bid Package 2 consists of all other trades and will bid at a later date.

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In accordance with Section 211.006 of Texas’ Local Government Code, a public hearing on these petitions will be conducted by the Planning and Zoning Commission. This hearing will begin at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, February 18, 2020. The Planning Commission will then forward its recommendations to the City Council, who will conduct its own public hearing at 6:30 PM on Monday, February 24, 2020 and make the final decision on these matters. Both public hearings will be held at

the Municipal Court Building, Council Chambers, 2801 RM 1869 in Liberty Hill, Texas.

Information regarding these applications is available at the city’s Planning and Development Department, 100 Forrest Street. For more information, call (512) 778-5449.

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION CITY OF LIBERTY HILL, TEXAS Chair (2/6) CITY OF LIBERTY HILL, TX CDBG SIDEWALKS PHASE II IMPROVEMENTS ADVERTISEMENT AND INVITATION FOR BIDS Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received by the CITY OF LIBERTY HILL, TEXAS for CDBG Sidewalks Phase II Improvements.

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Bids must be submitted on the complete project. Bids must be enclosed in a sealed envelope and will be received by the City of Liberty Hill, ATTN: Sally McFeron, 926 Loop 332, Liberty Hill, Texas 78642, until 2:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, February 11th, 2020, at which time the bids received will be publicly opened and read.

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

A good patch on the pitch

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Boys’ soccer squad midway through campaign

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor As it stands, the Liberty Hill boys’ soccer squad is approximately halfway through its season, already having embarked on the district campaign, with an 8-5 overall record and 2-0 in district.

The Panthers have scored 44 goals on the season so far, while only conceding 17 and much of the attacking prowess has come from junior striker Jaron Frye, who already has 22 goals and is well on his way to eclipsing his first two highschool seasons, when he netted 31 and 33, respectively.

In fact, Frye has scored in every game he’s played this season, including four hat tricks and a pair of four-goal games.

Despite the fact Frye has generated exactly half of his team’s goals, Liberty Hill head Coach Wayne Munger isn’t concerned with his offense being too much of a one-man show, he said.

“We don’t worry about balanced scoring,” said Munger.

“Jaron’s always going to have plenty of goals in him, but

we’re also working on other parts of his game.”

Second on the scoring charts for the Panthers is sophomore striker Kegan Taggart, who has five goals including a hat trick in a 6-0 road victory against Jarrell on Jan. 28, while no other Liberty Hill player has more than two.

Munger said his side has gradually continued to improve as more chemistry and cohesion has been built within the ranks.

“We’ve definitely improved in understanding our formation and each other,” he said.

“We have all the building blocks in place.”

A pair of those building blocks are Taggart and junior striker Ethan Minix, who has two goals and four assists on the season, said Munger.

“Ethan has seen a lot of improvement in his game,” he said. “Also, Kegan is finding ways to fit in.”

Even though his side keeps making its way up the mountain of success, the Panthers sideline boss said there’s always a guard against complacency.

“There’s always something we can work on,” said Munger. “We need to be able to see spaces out there to work in, find more intelligent passes and we have to keep our intensity up.”

A center-back combination of junior Rhett Hofmann, senior Gabe Hernandez and junior Zach Ellis has provided the Panthers with a solid base from which to launch attacks forward in front of senior goalkeeper Uriel Diaz, who has posted eight wins and five shutouts.

The midfield has been fueled by a talented group including senior Gerald Shoetan, sophomore Garrison Clopton and sophomore Hayden Ersham, who have provided the pipeline in the middle of the park from the defense to the strikers at the front of the formation.

Munger said the connection between the three elements on the field is crucial in continuing winning ways.

“I think the biggest thing we have to work on continuing to improve is our transition from defense to attack,” he said.

SHANNON HOFMANN PHOTO

Hayden Ersham (#8) has been an anchor in the midfield for the Panthers this season.

“We’re very attack-minded, so we might be susceptible to counters – that’s where I want to improve most.”

Munger cited a 2-1 home victory over Progreso during the Panther Cup on Jan. 3 as a proper signpost on the way to where they want to be as a team.

“I think that game was a checkpoint for us and was

a real confidence boost,” he said.

All five of Liberty Hill’s defeats have been by a single goal, which encourages Munger to a certain extent.

“We haven’t gotten blown out by anyone,” he said. “But, we’ve had some pretty big holes to dig out of, although I like our fightback and the fact we don’t get pushed around.

All of our scorelines have been close.”

However, the Panthers are keeping their collective eyes peeled for the potential prize that lies ahead, said Munger.

“Once we get to the playoffs, it’s the win-or-go-home mentality,” he said. “So, we’re always looking for that next pass and that next goal.”

SHANNON HOFMANN PHOTO

SHANNON HOFMANN PHOTO

Zach Ellis (#4) has been part of a successful defense which has posted five shutouts on the season.

BOYS’ SOCCER

Liberty Hill’s boys’ soccer squad hosted district opponent Florence on Jan. 31 and came away with a comprehensive 8-0 victory over the Buffaloes.

Jaron Frye scored four goals on the evening, while Gerald Shoetan added a pair for the Panthers.

Right from the outset, the home side was intent on testing the Florence keeper, as Ethan Minix forced a save off a pass from Frye in the second minute.

Kegan Taggart had a pair of chances in the following moments, along with another from Frye, but failed to capitalize.

Finally, in the 17th minute,

JV ROUNDUP

Boys’ Basketball Liberty Hill’s junior varsity hosted Salado Feb. 4 and prevailed 75-43.

Gunter Daniels led the Panthers with 23 points, while Kaden McMahan added 11

Shoetan sent a cross from the left wing toward the front of the net, only for it to deflect off a Florence defender and into the net for an own goal and a 1-0 Liberty Hill lead.

In the 28th minute, Shoetan scored a goal of his own with an individual effort inside the six-yard box and it was 2-0 in favor of the hosts, which is where the score remained at the half.

As the second half started, Minix and Garrison Clopton had quick chances which were denied, before Taggart finally buried one after his earlier misses for a 3-0 lead in the 51st minute.

After that, Frye went to work and completed his hat trick in

only seven minutes, which was followed by goals for Sean Snelgrooes and Elijah Schneider -- who scored in his first varsity appearance – to complete the scoring.

Head Coach Wayne Munger said Schneider certainly did more than enough to merit remaining on the varsity roster.

“Elijah’s played many positions, but today he showed his height and prowess in the final third,” he said. “We’ve been looking at him in practice the past few days, so today he got into a game and worked well with the group.”

Liberty Hill (8-5, 2-0) will next face an away game against Little River Academy on Feb. 7.

and Aaron Brewer 10 on the game.

The Panthers’ freshmen also defeated the Eagles, 69-24, as Cayden Branch scored 29 points.

On Jan. 31, both teams went to Lampasas and also came away victorious.

The JV beat the Badgers, 5944, as Brewer scored 11 points and Daniels 10.

Camden Justice and Daniels each scored 16 points in the freshmen squad’s 72-46 win.

LHJH ROUNDUP

Emma Stephens (#8) scored four goals in Liberty Hill’s 16-0 home win against Florence on Jan. 31.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Ladies hammer Florence, 16-0

Anyone who arrived late for the Lady Panthers’ home game against Florence on Friday missed quite a bit of action.

Liberty Hill scored eight goals in the opening 15 minutes of its district game against the Lady Buffaloes on the way to a convincing 16-0 victory.

Emma Stephens scored four goals in the resounding win and it certainly didn’t take very long for the offensive floodgates to open for the Lady Panthers, as Madi Fuller began the scoring in the fourth minute after Tabor had Girls basketball The Liberty Hill Junior High girls’ basketball squads face road games Jan. 30 against Taylor and went 3-0.

8th Grade Purple won, 45-38 Riley Clayton 13, Ella Granda 9, Izzy Amthor 6, Trinity

made a run down the right flank before sending a perfect cross onto the foot of Fuller, who slotted home for a quick 1-0 lead.

Only a minute later, Stephens scored her two first on the day after Kailey Fowler had beaten her defender in a race for the ball and passed to Stephens, who made no mistake.

Six more goals hit the back of the Florence net over the next 10 minutes, including two for Tabor, another for Fuller and Stephens and finally Fowler on a nifty spin move before she scored.

At the half, the Lady Panthers held a 9-0 lead.

Mykenna Russo headed home a goal off a corner by Alyssa Lee in the 53rd minute before Mia Macias and Cordelia

Brown completed the scoring with late goals of their own.

Fowler recorded her third hat trick of the season, while Janicek and Tabor each netted a pair.

Stephens increased her team-leading number to 14 on the season, while Tabor now has 10 and Fowler eight.

Collins 6, Kali Hurst 5, Paige Sterling 3, Emily Lilienthal 2, Kylie Hutchinson 1 7th Grade Purple won, 40-16 Evelyn Bruce 9, Mehkayla Mulski 8, Ava Kostroun 5, Addison Shifflett 4, Aubrey Hughes 4, Annie Witt 4, Ad-

dison Lee 2, Aubri Ettinger 2, Clara Justice 2 7th Grade Gold won, 39-11 Kate Bednarz 8, Maryjo Martin 8, Hailee Roberts 7, Avery Daugherty 4, Addison Gonzales 4, Emily Rios 4, Shelby Broderick 2, Ariyana Hemati 2

LHHS 3, Wimberley 0 On Feb. 4, the Lady Panthers hosted Wimberley in a non-district contest and came away with a 3-0 victory.

Stephens scored two goals, while Mykenna Russo added another and Alyssa Lee picked up a pair of assists.

Liberty Hill (9-1-3, 2-0) will next continue district play with a road game against Little River Academy on Feb. 7.