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Friday
March 29th, 2024

Liberal wins fourth straight WAC title

senirogirlsSeniors, from left, Reagan Watt, Aysha Porras, Kenzi Kapp, Machia Mullens, Katie Horyna, and front, Audrey Gilmore gather for a fun photo after winning the school's fourth straight WAC title with a 62-29 win over Hays. L&T photo/Earl WattBy EARL WATT

Leader & Times

When Aysha Porras sank her first basket as a senior in the second quarter against Hays Friday night in The Big House, the Rowdy Crowd erupted. All five seniors who played scored in a 62-29 runaway win, and the fact that the victory locked up the fourth straight Western Athletic Conference title seemed to be an afterthought. 

For one moment, five seniors were on the floor at the same time, and that seemed to mean more.

Illness prevented senior Kenzi Kapp from playing, but the five that did all scored to bring an end to a big day for the Class of 2020, from a pep assembly to the final regular season home game.

Machia Mullens started the night with a jumper, and by the end of the first quarter, the Lady Redskins had the game well in hand with a 20-8 lead.

In the second quarter, four different seniors scored in an 8-0 run starting with Katie Horyna and followed by Mullens, Reagan Watt and Audrey Gilmore.

In the final minute of the half, Porras put in her shot, and the Lady Redskins had a 34-12 lead.

The underclassmen still had a hand in the outcome with Aubrey Warden continuing to power to the basket from the block, and Ashley Carrillo knocked down a three and drove to the basket for points.

By the end of the third quarter the Lady Redskins had a 30-point lead, and the running clock was enacted for the fourth quarter.

The Lady Redskins added to the lead in the 62-29 win.

Mullens led the Lady Redskins with 17 points. Horyna and Warden each had 10, and Carrillo had eight. Watt score six and Gilmore ad Porras each had four.

“It’s a blessing to work with great student athletes and great young people who care about making their program great,” Liberal coach Carter Kruger said. “It’s bittersweet, but I’m really happy. We guarantee ourselves two more at home if we can win the first playoff game.”

The senior class is on a historic run, completing four straight undefeated regular seasons at home.

“We probably exceeded expectations,” Kruger said. “We knew this was a talented senior class. The potential was there to win a  lot of games. We have done that. They have been great leaders and built this into a great championship team. They took the mantle that got things going, and we’ve continued to keep the ball rolling that way. I’m proud of all those seniors, happy they could go out an a night like this. They deserve everything that comes to them. All six seniors will be successful. They are great young kids. When they go to college and beyond, the sky’s the limit.”

And Porras’ special moment was not lost on Kruger.

“Aysha is a special kid,” he said. “Everyone who knows her loves her. She works so hard, she makes her teammates better, she works and grinds. I’m happy she got that opportunity.”

But the season isn’t over, and there are bigger goals.

“If we lose focus it will cost us a seed,” Kruger said. “We need to defend extremely well.”

EARL WATT • Leader & Times

 

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