By EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
Five three-pointers in six minutes helped Great Bend overcome an 11-point deficit and knock off the Redskins 53-49 in triple overtime Saturday night.
Liberal was in control in the first half, building a 10-point lead that included a shot by Tyson Deaton with eight seconds to play in the second quarter. Great Bend struggled to penetrate the Liberal defense but had some success by connecting on three 3-pointers.
Great Bend was able to cut into the lead early in the third quarter when William Ross was called for an intentional foul. Great Bend hit both free throws and later Roderick Frise added a basket to cut Liberal’s lead to six.
The Redskins didn’t make a basket until Jade Cathey hit a three-pointer with 3:52 to play in the third. DeVondre Livingston added a jumper to give Liberal its biggest lead, 31-20.
The Panthers went exclusively to the long-range shot, and the Redskin offense began to panic.
Great Bend hit back-to-back threes and added a free throw to end the third quarter trailing 31-27.
Liberal continued to allow Great Bend to shoot from outside, and the Panthers hit two more threes to erase Liberal’s lead and take a 33-31 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Neither team was ahead by more than two points the final seven minutes of regulation. Great Bend had a shot to break the 40-40 tie, but missed the three-point attempt.
Liberal jumped out to a 44-41 advantage in the first overtime, but a basket and a free throw from Will Gray tied the game, and another last-second attempt by Great Bend missed.
Neither team scored for the first three minutes of the second overtime until Jace Bowman hit another three for Great Bend.
With less than 40 seconds to play, Slader McVey responded with Liberal’s second three of the night for a 47-47 tie, and again a last second shot by Great Bend missed.
Cathey gave the Redskins an early 49-47 lead in triple overtime, but Great Bend tied it.
Cathey fouled out for Liberal, and Great Bend scored four unanswered points for the 53-49 win.
Cathey scored 18 for the Redskins, Livingston had 16, and Deaton scored eight.
Liberal travels to Garden City Tuesday and will return home for senior recognition night Friday against Dodge City.