No Fear Press

The Liberty Lions came into Maryvale Wednesday night and defeated the Panthers 72-65 in a tight contest. A student-made banner which read “Last Score 77-75,” hung above the Lion’s bench to remind the visitors the outcome of the previous Liberty-Maryvale matchup. Maryvale being the victors last year.

Liberty played a very balanced game on both ends of the floor, out rebounding and outscoring Maryvale in second-chance points. The Lions had five players score in double-digits, their lead scorer being Jr. F/G Jacob Hunter who finished the night with 21 points.

Maryvale Sr. PG Adrian Stubbs led his team in scoring, dropping a game-high 27, but it still wasn’t enough to give his team the victory this year. Stubbs scored a career-high 56 points in last year’s game at Liberty to give his team the narrow two-point victory against the then-defending champs. All the hype from last year’s game definitely stirred up excitement for the rematch.

A row of videographers and photographers crowded Maryvale’s baseline. The much anticipated rematch garnished a lot of attention from both fans and the media.

Varsity manager and team photographer, Xavier Garcia, noticed the abnormal amount of media members during the game.

“I’ve never seen it like this before,” he said referencing the row of creatives crowding the baselines . “There was never this [many] people. Maybe one camera-guy…”

Isaiah Moya, a student at Maryvale and another talented photographer also noted the buzz-worthy crowd.

“I think it was pretty amazing to see this many people come out to the game, especially all the fans,” Moya said. “There being over five cameramen here was actually super crazy, me and Xavier being [a couple] of them… and CJ. Shout out No Fear TV.”

Unfortunately for the Maryvale crowd, the Panthers weren’t able to upset the Lions for the second straight year. Maryvale’s next opponent will come in the new year (Jan. 7) at home against the South Mountain Jaguars.