Category Archives: Liberty

When Libertys named popped on the screen during the NCAA womens tournament selection show Monday night, the team, which was gathered on the club level of the schools football press tower, let out a cheer.

Flames coach Carey Green, however, was a little taken aback by where the tournament committee had placed his team. Liberty will open tournament play on Sunday in South Bend, Ind., as a No. 16 seed against the top seed in the Raleigh Region, homestanding Notre Dame. Tipoff is at 2:30 p.m. and the game will be televised by ESPN2.

The Fighting Irish went 30-3 during the regular season, losing only to undefeated No. 1 Baylor, NCAA team West Virginia and No. 3 Connecticut, a team the Irish beat twice in the regular season. Liberty, which won the Big South tournament title on Sunday in High Point, N.C., hasnt been seeded 16th since going undefeated in the regular season in 1998. Libertys reward that season was a trip to Tennessee.

It was a little bit of sticker shock, Green said. I thought the team deserved a little bit of a higher seed than that. It was a slap in the face.

Liberty (24-8) won 18 of its final 19 games, including two victories against High Point on its home floor. But the similarity between the 2011-12 team and the 1997-98 version of the Flames is strength of schedule. Liberty won just five non-conference games this season, with only two coming against Division I opponents.

Both of those opponents were weak. Liberty won at UNC Greensboro, which went 4-25 and finished dead last in the Southern Conference, and the Flames beat Lipscomb, which went 6-23 and tied for last in the Atlantic Sun, on a neutral floor.

But Green has an argument. Liberty is ranked No. 95 in the RPI, and Samford (No. 103), Tennessee-Martin (No. 104) and Navy (No. 188) all earned No. 15 seeds. The tournament committee did some shifting to keep lower seeds closer to home. Navy will make the short trip to College Park to face Maryland, while Samford will make a 200-mile trip from Birmingham, Ala., to Nashville, Tenn., to face Duke.

Hampton, which is No. 63 in the RPI, ahead of 12 tournament teams, was dropped to a No. 16 so it could play Fresno Region No. 1 seed Stanford in nearby Norfolk.

It is what it is, Green said. Its a dream, though, a great opportunity for us. Were playing our best basketball of the year at this point in time. Well be prepared.

The Flames will face a significant challenge in the Irish, who advanced to last years national title game before falling to Texas A&M. Notre Dame has won at home by some incredibly lopsided margins this season, including wins over Indiana State (99-34), Hartford (98-43), Marquette (95-42), Purdue (66-38), Central Florida (90-38), Longwood (92-26) and Pittsburgh (120-44).

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Liberty draws Notre Dame in NCAA first round

New York Citys Statue of Liberty steals the hearts of millions upon their visit to Ellis Island. But now one woman claims to have actually fallen in love with statue, according to the Huffington Post.

Amanda Whittaker, a27-year-old British woman wholikes to be referred to as Amanda Liberty, suffers from a rare condition called objectum sexuality, which causes her to feel emotionally and sometimes sexually toward inanimate objects.

She first realized her unusual attraction when she had a love affair at 13 with a drum kit her parents gave her.

Whittaker has visited her lover in NY four times and said on This Morning, a British daytime talk show, that she just wants to be able to sit next to Lady Liberty, put her arm around her and watch the sunset together.

She also has a Statue of Liberty, or asshecalls her Libby,shrine in her bedroom. Ive got my own statues at home that I can connect with, she said, but its obviously not the same as being in New York.

Of course, the big question for the talk show hosts was whether or not there was a sexual attraction, to which Whittaker responded that there was, but it was only a small part.

A lot of the part is how she makes me feel and what shes done for me she makes me feel really good, she said.

After trying to be with a man for two years, Whittaker said that she had to follow her heart and her heart led to Lady Liberty.

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British woman falls in love with Lady Liberty [VIDEO]

Liberty's J.J. Hilliard (23) and Cardinal O'Hara's Shanice Johnson battle for a rebound in the first round of the PIAA 4A girls basketball tournament. (KEVIN MINGORA, THE MORNING CALL / March 8, 2012)

CLASS 4A

Matchup: District 11 No. 2 Liberty vs. District 3 No. 6 Governor Mifflin.

At stake: A spot in Friday's state quarterfinals against District 3 champion Red Lion (29-1) or District 1 No. 4 Council Rock South (26-2).

Liberty (17-9)

Coach: Amy Yencho (second year, 31-22).

Projected starters: 5-6 sr. G Jody Chickey (10.3 ppg); 5-6 sr. G J.J. Hilliard (10.2 ppg); 5-6 sr. G C.J. Hilliard (8.3 ppg); 5-7 so. G Kali Shumock (7.2 ppg); 6-0 so. F Maggie Zerbe (3.5 ppg).

About the Hurricanes: Advanced to the second round with a 40-39 win over Cardinal O'Hara, then the No. 8 ranked Class 4A team in the state. J.J. Hilliard has scored in double figures five times in the last six games and is averaging 12.3 points per game over that span. Average 44.7 points per game and allow 37.4. Are 5-1 in their last six games. Average 12.8 steals per game. Shoot 65 percent from the foul line as a team. Shumock averages 4.1 steals per game. Zerbe leads the team in rebounding with 5.2 boards per game.

Governor Mifflin (18-8)

Coach: Rick Bausher (29th season, 471-266).

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Liberty-Governor Mifflin PIAA 4A girls basketball preview capsule

By: VIC DORR JR. | Richmond Times-Dispatch Published: March 13, 2012 Updated: March 13, 2012 - 12:00 AM

Who is out was a hotter topic than who is in when the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament announced selections and first-round matchups Monday night.

In: Big South champion Liberty and MEAC champion Hampton. No surprise there. Both earned automatic invitations by winning conference tournaments. Out: the Virginia Cavaliers, whose 22-10 record included a 69-64 victory over Tennessee, the most aristocratic program in the women's game. Big surprise there.

Committee chairman Greg Christopher, the athletic director at Bowling Green, said the Cavaliers were among the last four teams excluded from the field of 64. Also included in that unhappy group were Oklahoma State, Southern Cal and Temple. The last four in: Florida, Kansas State, Michigan and Texas.

Christopher said deliberations concerning the final teams in the field "were really difficult. Ultimately, we probably spent four hours close to four hours, certainly talking just about those eight teams." The tipping point, Christopher said, was big-game success. The last four in "elevated their play. They stood up and got some significant wins that we didn't see from the others."

Then, perhaps recalling Virginia's overtime upset of Tennessee, he specifically addressed the Cavaliers' ACC rsum. Virginia finished 10-8 against ACC opponents. Said Christopher: "Their (conference) wins came against teams below them in the standings. None, really, came against teams that finished above them."

The Cavaliers finished 0-1 against Duke, 0-2 against North Carolina and 0-3 against Maryland.

While Virginia found itself on the outside looking in, Liberty and Hampton find themselves on the bottom looking up. Each was tagged with a No. 16 seed, which means each will face a No. 1 when subregional play begins this weekend. Hampton (26-4) was placed in the Fresno regional and was permitted to stay close to home. The Pirates, winners of three consecutive MEAC titles, will make the short drive to nearby Old Dominion University to face top-seeded Stanford (31-1) on Saturday at approximately 1:40 p.m.

A much longer journey awaits Liberty. The Flames (24-8) were placed in the Raleigh regional. They will travel to South Bend, Ind., for Sunday's 2:40 p.m. appointment with No. 1-seeded Notre Dame (30-3).

Flames coach Carey Green said his players are more eager than apprehensive about their first-round assignment.

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Liberty, Hampton draw No 16 seeds in women's tournament

When Libertys named popped on the screen during the NCAA womens tournament selection show Monday night, the team, which was gathered on the club level of the schools football press tower, let out a cheer.

Flames coach Carey Green, however, was a little taken aback by where the tournament committee had placed his team. Liberty will open tournament play on Sunday in South Bend, Ind., as a No. 16 seed against the top seed in the Raleigh Region, homestanding Notre Dame. Tipoff is at 2:30 p.m. and the game will be televised by ESPN2.

The Fighting Irish went 30-3 during the regular season, losing only to undefeated No. 1 Baylor, NCAA team West Virginia and No. 3 Connecticut, a team the Irish beat twice in the regular season. Liberty, which won the Big South tournament title on Sunday in High Point, N.C., hasnt been seeded 16th since going undefeated in the regular season in 1998. Libertys reward that season was a trip to Tennessee.

It was a little bit of sticker shock, Green said. I thought the team deserved a little bit of a higher seed than that. It was a slap in the face.

Liberty (24-8) won 18 of its final 19 games, including two victories against High Point on its home floor. But the similarity between the 2011-12 team and the 1997-98 version of the Flames is strength of schedule. Liberty won just five non-conference games this season, with only two coming against Division I opponents.

Both of those opponents were weak. Liberty won at UNC Greensboro, which went 4-25 and finished dead last in the Southern Conference, and the Flames beat Lipscomb, which went 6-23 and tied for last in the Atlantic Sun, on a neutral floor.

But Green has an argument. Liberty is ranked No. 95 in the RPI, and Samford (No. 103), Tennessee-Martin (No. 104) and Navy (No. 188) all earned No. 15 seeds. The tournament committee did some shifting to keep lower seeds closer to home. Navy will make the short trip to College Park to face Maryland, while Samford will make a 200-mile trip from Birmingham, Ala., to Nashville, Tenn., to face Duke.

Hampton, which is No. 63 in the RPI, ahead of 12 tournament teams, was dropped to a No. 16 so it could play Fresno Region No. 1 seed Stanford in nearby Norfolk.

It is what it is, Green said. Its a dream, though, a great opportunity for us. Were playing our best basketball of the year at this point in time. Well be prepared.

The Flames will face a significant challenge in the Irish, who advanced to last years national title game before falling to Texas A&M. Notre Dame has won at home by some incredibly lopsided margins this season, including wins over Indiana State (99-34), Hartford (98-43), Marquette (95-42), Purdue (66-38), Central Florida (90-38), Longwood (92-26) and Pittsburgh (120-44).

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Liberty draws Notre Dame in NCAA first roun

By: BY BENJAMIN CATES | For The Register & Bee Published: March 12, 2012 Updated: March 12, 2012 - 9:20 AM

HIGH POINT, N.C. You dont usually think of a team learning something from a win. That phrase is typically reserved for squads on the losing side.

But after top-seeded Liberty defeated host High Point, 81-73, to capture its 14th Big South tournament championship and earn another automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, the Lady Flames walked away knowing a little more about themselves.

With senior center Avery Warley limited to just 23 minutes of action after being hampered by foul trouble early, Liberty had to look elsewhere for a spark. Enter junior guard Devon Brown.

Luckily for Liberty, Brown really enjoys playing in the Millis Center. She scored a career-high 29 points here in a win over High Point in 2010.

Brown (24 points, 14 rebounds) took grit and determination to another level on Sunday.

Devon Brown is as good as they get, Liberty coach Carey Green said. This was an outstanding game. She wanted to win and she wanted to go to the Big Dance.

Freshman guard Reagan Miller added 15 points and eight assists and Warely (14 points, 12 rebounds) still found a way to get her 15th double-double of the season by adding eight points when Liberty needed them in a critical second-half stretch.

While they cruised to the finals with big wins over UNC-Ashville and Charleston Southern, Liberty struggled to overcome a scrappy, physical High Point squad that looked to knock off them off for the second time this year. The two teams previously split a pair of meetings this season.

Liberty found it difficult to contain junior guard Erin Reynolds as the Panthers squeaked by the Lady Flames by four points in January. A month later, the Liberty needed double-digit scoring from five players to down the Panthers.

Originally posted here:
Liberty comes from behind to win title

WEST LIBERTY For decades, Rose W. May has been the musical heart and soul of the West Liberty United Methodist Church.

A retired Morgan County English teacher, she has played graduations, baptisms, weddings and funerals. The March 2 tornado that ripped through town took her church, her house and her grand piano. It even took her sheet music.

But it couldn't take her songs.

Sunday, as members of several churches destroyed by the tornado gathered in an auditorium at Morehead State University's West Liberty campus, Rose May was there, pouring out the old hymns like balm on wounded souls.

"This is the first time she's played since it happened," said Terri Walters, her daughter, of Pikeville. "She is at home, isn't she? At her keyboard."

Sparing a wink over the top or a wave to well-wishers, May swept through a medley ofchurch classics, with a few other emotional favorites mixed in.

She tried to keep it upbeat, and almost threw in the school fight song but decided that might not be proper.

As members of the congregations of the Methodist, First Baptist, Broadway First Church of God, Church of Christ, and Christian churches all destroyed hugged and wiped away tears, Rose May's "My Old Kentucky Home" was the soundtrack of their emotional reunion.

Nine days earlier, May had been on the phone with Walters as the tornado approached and when her daughter said "It's coming," May calmly said good-bye, picked up her purse and headed for the basement.

On the way down the stairs, she heard a terrible sound and the roof lifted off her house. She made it to cover in a corner. Once it got quiet again, the basement wall had fallen away and May just walked right out, unharmed and unafraid. She's staying with Walters in Pikeville but knew she had to come to Sunday's service.

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West Liberty worship: 'We may have lost our church, but we haven't lost our heart'

COLUMBIA, Mo. Both coaches used the same word to describe the feeling at the onset of the Class 4 boys third-place game Saturday at Mizzou Arena.

Hangover.

Liberty North and Imagine werecoming off tough semifinal losses on Friday, but botheventually were able to shake it off long enough to play a thrilling overtime game, won by the Eagles, 54-50.

In just the school's second year of existence, Liberty North (23-7) picked up its first state basketball trophy.

What a game. I'll bet as a fan it was a fun game to watch, Eagles coach Chris McCabe said. I think (the original feeling) was just a hangover. You could tell we were worried about the snowball effect a little bit.

Imagine (23-8, No. 10 in the STLhighschoolsports.com small-schools rankings) also picked up its first state basketball trophy with the fourth-place finish.

I feel like the game was a hangover for us from our tough loss yesterday, and our energy level wasn't there early, Bears coach Tony Irons said. But I'm definitely not taking anything away from (Liberty North). They made plays, and they hit some big shots.

No shot was bigger than Garrett Loew's 3-pointer from the top of the key with four seconds left in regulation to tie the game and send it to overtime.

I wanted to take the shot being a senior since this was my last game, said Loew, who had 15 points and 11 rebounds and is one of only two seniors on the team. It was initially supposed to be a flare screen, but that wasn't there and then I got open at the top and got a decent look at it.

Irons said he thought about calling for a foul in the few seconds leading up to Loew's 3-point attempt.

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Liberty North gets the last word in back-and-forth OT duel with Imagine

Dennis Rogers, 54 (Liberty County Sheriff's Office)

*** UPDATED***

The severe weather conditions Sunday prompted Liberty County officials to call off a search for a 54-year-old Plum Grove man who had been missing since Thursday as his family grew increasingly concerned.

But the storms that persisted over the weekend made the search for Dennis Rogers very difficult. ATVs and horses became stuck in the deep waters and mud. An air search, which had been sporadic due to the inclement weather, was impossible Sunday, officials said. A sonar device also could not be deployed.

It has yet to be determined when or if a search may be re-initiated, Liberty County sheriffs officials said in a news release.

The search spanned four days and involved 150 people, including area sheriffs officials and volunteer fire fighters, Texas EquuSearch, and residents from Huntsville, Lufkin and Alvin.

Rogers placed a 911 call around 8 p.m. on Thursday for help. The man reportedly told the dispatcher that he had gone for a walk, went too far and got lost. His cell phone died as the deputies tried to triangulate his position. They tried to return his call but have not heard from him since.

The family told authorities that it was not unusual for Roger to take long walks near the familys home. They said an accident he suffered years ago left him with the mental capacity of a 9-year-old.

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Storms halt search for Liberty County man

HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP)Liberty coach Carey Green probably shouldnt be as bad at celebrating as he says he is. Through the years, his Flames have given him plenty of chances to practice.

Devon Brown had 24 points and 14 rebounds, and Liberty pulled away late to beat High Point 81-73 on Sunday and win the Big South tournament for the 14th time in 16 years.

Avery Warley added 14 points and 12 rebounds despite prolonged foul trouble, while Brown was 6 of 23 shooting. The Flames (24-8) built a 56-39 rebounding advantage and used a late 22-9 run to return to the NCAA tournament after a one-year absence.

Greens record in the league tournament improved to 35-2 in his 13th year.

Its March Madness, and its a dream come true for our team that were in the tournament, Green said. As a coach, Im the worlds worst at celebrating because Im always looking for whats the next challenge. I would hope that I could lead this team into celebration and take a sigh of relief and enjoy the moment and refocus.

Erin Reynolds scored 27 points, Shamia Brown added 23 and Cheyenne Parker had 12 rebounds for the Panthers (20-12). They had their leading rebounder and scorer foul out during a span of five secondsand the game got away from them shortly thereafter.

Theres a reason theyve won as many championships as they have, first-year High Point coach Jennifer Hoover said. Youve got to give them credit. Were getting there. Were still a work in progress.

Shamia Browns stickback with 11 1/2 minutes left put High Point up 53-48 before LaKendra Washingtons three-point play on the Flames next trip downcourt started the big run.

Reagan Miller gave Liberty the lead for good when her drive with 8 1/2 minutes to play made it 57-56. High Point managed only one tie after that, on Reynolds 3-pointer with 7:45 left that made it 59-all. Tolu Omotola then followed that with a layupoff Millers no-look passto put the Flames back on top.

They took firm control of the momentum during a series of whistles that began with Liberty up 65-62 with 4:39 left.

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Liberty wins Big South again, 81-73 over HPU