Coronado turns up heat, routs Liberty
Coronado’s Austin Nelson regards every game as a playoff game, so it should have been no surprise to Liberty that he was in postseason form Thursday.
Nelson, a senior guard, compiled 23 points, eight assists and three steals in helping the Cougars roll past the visiting Patriots, 87-49.
Though it looked like a routine Southeast League victory, Nelson admitted it held special significance to the Cougars.
“Every game we play against Liberty is special,” said Nelson, who scored 15 points in the second half. “We know every time we play them, it’s going to be a tough game.”
This one wasn’t, especially after Coronado (18-5, 9-0 Southeast) outscored Liberty 31-8 in the third quarter. The Patriots (9-12, 4-5) stayed close for a quarter, but the Cougars’ intense defensive pressure soon asserted itself and they wound up forcing 28 turnovers.
“It’s all about defense,” Coronado coach Jeff Kaufman said. “We’ve been very fortunate this season in shutting people down. Our focus is to take away the middle and swarm the guards.”
That game plan took effect midway through the first half, and Coronado held Liberty scoreless for the final 3:43 of the half to take a 29-16 lead.
The Patriots went without a field goal for nearly seven minutes spanning the second and third quarters, and Nelson’s long 3-pointer capped a 9-2 run that gave Coronado a 40-18 lead with 5:12 left in the third. The Cougars led 60-24 at the end of the quarter.
“We’re not trying to embarrass anyone,” said Kaufman, who had four scorers in double figures. “We just try to take away what the other team likes to do.”
After Nelson’s layup made it 67-27 with 7:01 to play, Kaufman emptied his bench. Only then did the Cougars’ defensive pressure drop a notch, with Liberty scoring 25 in the quarter.
Kyle Johnson scored 12 points for the Cougars. Michael Louder and Jared Culbert added 10 apiece, and Culbert contributed five assists.
Randy Tomlinson scored 13 points to lead Liberty, and Aaron Navitsky supplied 10 points and six rebounds.
