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Broncos live to play another day

Head coach Dustan Arlt knows there are no easy wins in post-season play.

Liberty made that clear on Monday when they made the Broncos stay focused for four quarters in a loser-out game in the District 7 2B Tournament at Mead High School.

The Broncos pulled out a 61-55 win, earning the right to play Wednesday night against Davenport, a league opponent they would dearly love to beat.

“We had a tough game last night. We knew it would be, but we had a real good second half and pulled it out,” Arlt said. “Now we get a chance at Davenport.”

The Broncos were struggling to find their stride in the first half and found themselves trailing by four at intermission.

At the end of the third, the Broncos were on a roll.

“Dylan (Hartz) hit a deep shot with a second left, it was probably a 30-footer,” Arlt said. “Then Colby (Starring) hit another three a little bit into the fourth.”

For the game, Hartz delivered 25 points, supported by 10 from Connor O’Neill. Jesse Miller scored eight and Jake Dewald had seven points. Tyler Frederick scored six and Starring finished with three. Chris Steinmetz had two.

In the opening round of district play, the Broncos took one on the chin as Reardan rolled to a 65-49 win, thanks to a big effort in the second quarter when they outscored the Broncos 23-10.

“Offensively, in the first quarter, we played as well as we have for a while,” Arlt said. “We were sitting pretty good half way through the second half when they got hot and we stopped making shots. All of a sudden we were down double digits.”

O’Neill led the team scoring with 15. Dewald had 11 points and Starring served up nine. Hartz scored six and Steinmetz added four.

Results of the Davenport game were not available at press time. But, Arlt said he was excited for the contest.

“I know the boys are excited to get a chance to upset them and kind of avenge themselves for that overtime loss,” Arlt said.

If the Broncos defeated Davenport, they play Friday at Mt. Spokane in the next round of the tournament at 3:30 p.m.

 

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