LIBERTY– Liberty welcomed three local high school girls’ basketball teams for a summer league tournament last Wednesday, giving Sullivan County athletes a valuable opportunity to compete and continue developing their skills well before the winter season begins.

“Overall, this is a great experience for the girls,” said Liberty’s coach Levar Hamilton. “I want to thank Mrs. Alvord for putting it together and allowing the Sullivan County girls to compete and continue learning. We hope to grow this until the point where all the teams in the county can join us because it really is an awesome opportunity.”

The Redhawks opened the tournament against Sullivan West, where the Bulldogs put together a dominant performance from the opening tip. Although Sullivan West won the jump ball, Liberty came up with an early defensive stop before the Bulldogs found their rhythm. Liberty looked to move the ball around the perimeter to break down the defense, while Sullivan West executed crisp offensive sets that consistently created quality scoring opportunities. 

After scoring the game’s first basket, the Bulldogs erupted on a 23-point run before Liberty was able to get on the scoreboard. Sullivan West’s defensive pressure frustrated the Redhawks throughout the opening half as they built a commanding 23-2 advantage.

The Bulldogs never let up after halftime, adding another 25 points while holding Liberty to just five in the second half to complete a convincing 48-7 victory. The Bulldogs ultimately went on to secure first place in the 3-day tournament.

Liberty rebounded in its second game of the day with a thrilling contest against Fallsburg. The Comets controlled the opening tip and scored first with a coast-to-coast layup after both teams missed early opportunities. Fallsburg relied on a balanced attack featuring outside shooting and interior passing for layups, while Liberty looked to attack the basket with drives into the paint.

Despite Fallsburg controlling the rebounding battle, neither team could create much separation. The two squads traded baskets throughout the first half before the Comets carried a slim 14-10 lead into the break.

The second half continued at the same fast-paced, tempo. Fallsburg maintained a narrow lead for much of the period before putting together a short run to move ahead 20-15 with about 14 minutes remaining. Liberty answered with a seven-point run of its own, highlighted by a clutch three-pointer that gave the Redhawks their first lead of the game.

The lead changed hands several times down the stretch as both teams battled until the final moments. In the end, Liberty held on for a dramatic 31-30 victory, earning a split in its two tournament games and capping the day with an exciting comeback win in front of the home crowd.

“It’s been a long time since there has been an opportunity like this in Sullivan County for our female basketball players,” shared Erin Alvord after the conclusion of the tournament. “It was a pleasure to watch all four of these programs play competitive basketball. I didn’t realize how rewarding it would feel to be in my favorite place, the gym, watching these young women compete. We think it is the start of something special and a way for us to get all of Sullivan County women’s basketball back on the map!”

Tournament game results

Day 1

Tri-Valley 24 Fallsburg 13

Sullivan West 48 Liberty 7

Fallsburg 30 Liberty 31

Day 2

Tri-Valley 24 Sullivan West 23

Liberty 19 Tri-Valley 18

Sullivan West 27 Fallsburg 26

Day 3

Sullivan West 27 Fallsburg 14

Tri-Valley 33 Liberty 18

Liberty 24 Fallsburg 15

Sullivan West 27 Tri-Valley 25