How sweet it is, after #10 seed Liberty High School became the lowest seed to ever win a state championship by the AIA, after a nice 69-63 victory over Sandra Day O'Connor High School. Liberty Head Coach Mark Wood and his staff are to be commended on the program they have built in the Northwest Valley, and this season continued to prove Coach Mark Wood's value and coaching ability, as he led a team this season that had numerous ups and downs, but won it all in the end.
Liberty (19-12) hung around all season, and, when it counted, put it all together to win their last (4) games of the season, including the 6A State Championship. Liberty entered the 6A State Playoffs after losing their last (3) games on the season, which included an Open Division State Playoff loss to Notre Dame Prep (91-75), a loss to Sunnyslope (69-58) and also a loss to Sandra Day O'Connor (65-60). Liberty previously defeated Sandra Day O'Connor in an earlier season contest, 82-76, setting up the rubber-match between these two teams on Saturday afternoon, and for the 6A State Championship.
The game would be a very nice match-up between two of the state's top two post prospects - Liberty's 6-foot-8 senior Ring Nyeri (UMKC signee) and Sandra Day O'Connor's 6-foot-8 junior Michael Simcoe. Both players would not disappoint, as both would have strong performances for their respective teams.
Simcoe would come up huge for Sandra Day in the first half, as he would finish with 16 of his team's 31 total points in the first half. Simcoe would catch an alley-oop pass and finish the play to give Sandra Day a narrow 31-30 halftime lead.
Liberty though would come out fired up in the second half and would take a 47-41 lead with :48 seconds to play in the third period, after a nice mid-range bank shot from Nyeri. Liberty would take the 47-41 lead into the fourth period.
With 5:35 remaining in the game, 6-foot-3 junior Stephan Miller would score on a driving basket around a defender, and putting Liberty ahead 52-44. While Sandra Day O'Connor would look to climb back in it, and would make the game close, another tap in by Stephan Miller after an offensive rebound would put Liberty ahead 56-50 with 3:55 left to play in regulation.
Simcoe would convert a three-point play late in the contest, but Sandra Day would not be able to climb back late, as Liberty would finish off the state championship victory, 69-63 @ Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Congratulations to the Liberty High School basketball program on this amazing accomplishment - proving that the Open Division format and state playoff formats are definitely working nicely for the AIA. Liberty and Sandra Day O'Connor fought hard all season for an opportunity to compete in the Open Division State Playoffs, and still had an opportunity to win it all in the state's 6A Division - making for an excellent finish for both programs.
Ring Nyeri finished off an excellent high school career for himself, highlighted by his signing with the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) during his senior season. Nyeri had an excellent senior season, where he posted strong numbers - averaging 20.4 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per/contest. Nyeri capped off his high school career, which included loads of development, hard work and overcoming obstacles in his life. Well done young man and congratulations.
