The Liberty North Mens basketball team played in their first conference game on Thursday Jan. 12th. They faced the Park Hill South Panthers away at PHS High School. The tip off was at 7pm and the starters for the game took the floor. Norths starters included Senior Nick Coleman, Senior Dominic Fragola, Junior Robbie Hanson, Junior Tyson Cathy and Junior James Perry. The first quarter begins and the Eagles take control, Robbie Hanson scores 2 for the first bucket of the game. Middle of the first, Dom finishes a backdoor layup assist courtesy of Coleman. Eagles lead 6-3. By the end of the first, Eagles lead PHS 10-7. North executes a 7-0 run consisted of James Perry with a layup and a 3 pointer and Fragola with a breakaway. Sophomore Braden Stervinou banks a 3 pointer in from the top of the key making the score 26-17 with the Eagles leading going into halftime. PHS comes out ready to play in the second half closing the gap in scoring 27-24 North. Park Hill South’s intensity increases coming within 1 point. 29-28 late third quarter. North still in the lead…barley. To close out the third Jarrett Malone finishes a backdoor layup. Score going into the final quarter of the game is 32-30 LNHS in the lead. Tyson Cathy starts of the quarter strong inside the paint. With 6 minutes to play PHS takes the lead 35-34. Eagles regain the lead with a inside bucket from Cathy and a 3 from Fragola. With patient D from PHS they break down the lead to 2. 43-41 with 1:35 left in the game. North with the possession runs the clock down forcing PHS to foul. Hanson finishes 2 free throws giving the Eagles the lead, 45-42. 21 seconds to go the Panthers drain a 3 pointer tying the game. The clock runs out on Norths inbounds and the game goes into OT. Panthers come out focused and start overtime with a 3. Tyson scores inside and PHS slowly runs the clock down. North fouls sending PHS to the line where both free throws are made. 51-50 PHS leas with 1 minute left. On the offensive end for the Eagles, Cathy heads to the line after getting fouled and gives North the lead finishing both of his free throws. Down the floor, Cathy fouls out and sends Panthers to the line where they reclaim the lead. 52-51, 38 seconds left. North turns the ball over and yet again PHS is at the life, expanding the lead 54-51. Another turnover, PHS has the offensive possession, North fouls, PHS makes 1 of 2 throws. PHS hols a 4 point lead. In the last seconds of the game Junior Zane Brown finishes a 3 but the Eagles come up 1 point short to the Park Hill South Panthers.