ANDERSON, Ind. —
It doesn’t take a deep background check to discover a time when the Liberty Christian boys basketball team wasn’t as successful as it has been these past two seasons.
In fact, three of the team’s seniors, have experienced the transition firsthand.
Austin Castor, Thatcher Rouse and Remington Emery have played varsity basketball for the Lions for four seasons. Their first two years the team had a combined record of 9-35.
“When I first started the team was regarded as something of a joke,” said Rouse. “Now we’ve developed where we’re kind of a power in 1A.”
“Things have changed big time,” said Castor, who is out for the season with a broken femur. “We have changed our offense. We are more aggressive now. There can’t be a deeper team in 1A. We can go 10 deep on this team.”
Emery backed up the depth comment by saying, “We’re not anxious when we come off the floor because we know that whoever is coming in will have our backs. There is a whole different atmosphere around this program now.”
The Lions started the comeback a year ago, posting a 13-12 record and winning their first sectional title.
“Last year we had the advantage of surprise,” said Emery. “We got a taste of what it was like last year.”
Last year Liberty Christian went to the Frankfort Regional and defeated Lafayette Central Catholic before falling in the title game to Rockville.
The path to a sectional crown was even tougher this season. The Lions, now 19-5, had to win three games instead of two and once again had to survive an overtime in the title clash to get the return trip Saturday to the regional.
“I got nervous when we were down eight in the last five minutes of (regulation),” said Emery. “But when Ben Bowen stepped up and hit a couple of free throws to get us back in it, then it turned the momentum back to us. We knew that this year we’d have targets on our backs.”
Thatcher and Rouse have had their own individual adjustments to make.
“It was interesting as a freshman,” recalled Rouse. “I just walked in and started as a freshman. Last year (junior season) I had a huge adjustment. I went from 15 shots a game to five and was coming off the bench.”
He hopes the experience from both the first two years and the past two seasons will be of benefit.
“I’ve kind of seen it from both sides now,” said Rouse. “Maybe I can help the guys with the experience I’ve had.”
Castor’s adjustment has been one of sitting out the stretch run and the tournament play because of his injury.
“When I first went to the doctor, they didn’t find anything wrong,” said Castor. “But when I got a second opinion, they said the femur was broken. It was the day of the Attucks game (Jan. 25). I remember I was pretty emotional.”
So now he must sit and watch and do other things to help his team.
“The big thing is to be there to cheer them on,” said Castor. “I just want to let them know that I’m there to support them in everything they do. But it’s killing me, as a senior, to not be able to play.”
In the changing face of Liberty Christian basketball, this season has been the payoff for hard work and patience for all three of these seniors.
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
Liberty Christian basketball player Thatcher Rouse works the ball during practice Tuesday. John P. Cleary
-
Liberty Christian basketball player Remington Emery goes through drills during practice Tuesday. John P. Cleary
-
Liberty Christian players read the notes of encouragement on the large poster that is on the wall in the gym during a break in practice Tuesday. John P. Cleary
-
Liberty Christian boys basketball player Austin Castor. John P. Cleary
Discussion
Lions no longer taken lightly
Liberty Christian seniors proud of program’s turnaround
- Local Sports
-
-
Liberty Christian eliminated in softball sectional
Liberty Christian School and Cowan had to wait 48 hours to resume play in the second semifinal of the IHSAA softball sectional 55, but once they did it was over in a minute.
-
Dan Patch features Hall of Famers
A Hall of Fame driver, a Hall of Fame trainer and the defending champ highlight the 10-horse field for tonight’s 20th running of the Dan Patch Invitational.
The race carries a purse of $200,000 and will be the 11th race on the card. First post is 5:30 p.m. and the Dan Patch will have an approximate post of 9:30. -
Sheets bumps his way into Little 500
All the drama on “bump day” came down to the final minutes as Anderson driver Jim Sheets made the starting field on Friday at Anderson Speedway as the last car on the track.
Sheets was bumped from the 33rd and final spot in the field for the 65th running of the Pay Less Little 500 tonight with less than 15 minutes remaining in qualifying. -
Helberg nabs Little 500 pole
Following a rain shower and cooler than normal May temperatures, drivers were having problems finding grip around Anderson Speedway on pole day qualifying Thursday for the Pay Less Little 500.
California driver JoJo Helberg went out early in the qualifying session and captured the first Little 500 pole of his career with a four-lap average speed of 80.56 mph and the quick lap of the day at 81.17 mph. -
Family affair in Lapel sectional
It will be like a new episode of “All in the Family” when the Lapel baseball sectional championship game is held on Monday.
In Thursday’s semifinals, Frankton rolled past Shenandoah 10-4 and then Lapel scored seven runs in the sixth inning on its way to a 10-3 thrashing of Wapahani. -
Trio leads area at boys regional
The Ben Davis boys track regional is one of the toughest in the state.
“THE toughest,” according to Anderson coach Cary House.
It’s proven on the track year after year as runners from Brebuf Jesuit, Lawrence Central and the host Giants torch the competition.
But Madison County made its presence known in the field events this year. -
Wilson drives Tribe into semifinals
There was some debate overnight about whether Curtis Wilson would return to the mound Thursday when Anderson’s Class 4A sectional game resumed against Richmond.
But the Indians senior never had a doubt. -
Arabians roll to softball sectional title
Pendleton Heights leadoff hitter Sarah Dixon set the table, and Arabians starting pitcher Bailey Benefiel made sure the visitors got none of the food.
The Arabians stopped Greenfield 7-1 Wednesday night to claim the sectional title. -
Raiders repeat at Eagles’ expense
For only the fourth time in school history and second year in a row, the Wapahani Lady Raiders are softball sectional 40 champions after a 9-4 win Wednesday over the host Frankton Lady Eagles. As with all championships, it did not come easy.
-
Anderson, Richmond left in suspense
The Anderson baseball team’s Class 4A sectional title defense began well Wednesday night.
The only problem is it still hasn’t finished. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
