Liberty's season comes to an end in 75-73 loss to Troy

Liberty's Isaiah Tigget drives to the basket during the first half Wednesday. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Liberty High’s standout boys basketball season came to an untimely end Wednesday night in a 75-73 loss to Troy at home in the first round of the CIF Division 3AA playoffs.

The teams played even for most of the game, with the score tied at halftime and after three quarters. Troy took a six-point lead at 64-58 midway through the fourth quarter, but the Bison battled back to tie it at 66 on a drive to the basket by Isaiah Tigget.

Troy (20-10) pushed the lead back to four points when guard Terry Ahn was left open for a layup and subsequent free throw, however. After a missed shot, the Bison were forced to foul with 19.9 seconds left. Ahn made one free throw for a 73-67 lead that all but sealed the victory.

Liberty’s Jaden Ortega missed a 3-point attempt for Liberty and a Bison foul with 11.6 seconds left resulted in another Troy free throw. Tigget sank a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 74-70, but there were only 4.8 seconds remaining.

After another Troy free throw, Liberty got the ball back and Jalen Tigget sank a 3-point shot at the buzzer, but that left the Bison two points short of the victory.

Isaiah Tigget led Bison scorers with 20 points, followed by Ortega with 13, Caius Nile with 12 and JJ Derla with 11. Troy got a big game from its big man, 6-foot-6 Vander Ploog, who scored 18 points and was an intimidating factor under the basket.

Liberty, which won the Mountain Pass League with a 10-0 record, finishes the season with a 21-7 mark.

JJ Derla squares up for an outside shot for Liberty. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 Jalen Tigget goes up for two in the first half Wednesday night. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 Rene Delgado leaps to take an inside shot against Troy. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)