Roundup: Liberty protects its homecourt, wins annual invitational

Liberty’s football season ended Friday and its annual girls basketball invitational wrapped up on Saturday, meaning Patriots offensive coordinator and girls basketball coach Chad Kapanui can finally relax.

“It’s been so busy for me the past three weeks,” he said. “Football practices straight to basketball practice, basketball practice straight to football practice. Vice versa … You had a tournament and a (football) game in the same day. But I got through it.”

And so did the Patriots girls basketball players.

With a sizable trophy to show for it.

Liberty posted a 4-0 record and cruised to a 76-41 victory over Coronado in the finale to win the Liberty Invitational Saturday afternoon. Kapanui and the Patriots don’t play against until Dec. 7, meaning they’ll have more time to acclimate superstar senior Foothill transfer Rae Burrell, who already is more than comfortable playing with her new squad.

“(Our chemistry) is getting stronger and stronger with each and every practice,” Burrell, a Tennessee recruit, said after scoring 12 points against the Cougars. “We’re trying to get to know each other a little bit more. It’s getting better.”

Utah commit Dre’una Edwards scored 18 of her game-high 24 points in first half, and asserted her will on both ends of the floor.

The 6-foot-2-inch senior forward deterred Coronado’s players from attacking the basket, and triggered Liberty’s fast break after swallowing rebounds.

Edwards and Burrell picked apart the Cougars’ 1-3-1 zone defense, too, by beating it up the floor, sharing the ball and attacking closeouts. They created offense for themselves and their teammates in helping the Patriots to a 44-20 halftime lead.

“I love having a good teammate on the team like (Burrell),” Edwards said. “She’s very diverse and we kind of play the same position so she gives me a lot of help on boards and on offensive plays where I can have someone that I know (can) help me carry the team on my back.”

London Pavlica added 13 points and Leilani Padilla had 10 for the Patriots, who expect to see a lot of zone defenses attempt to neutralize Burrell and Edwards.

Kapanui is used to coaching against zones, though, and said the Patriots will get better offensively throughout the course of the season as they learn how integrate Burrell and her dynamic offensive skill set.

“You’ve got to figure out a way to make them jell as a team,” he said. “It’s always hard, but she fits in perfect with our group of girls.”

Tia Thornton and Haley Morton each scored nine points to lead Coronado (3-1).

Liberty 57, Arbor View 55 — At Liberty, Pavlica led three Patriots in double figures with 13 points as they defeated the Aggies.

Burrell added 12 points, and Edwards scored 11 for Liberty, which led 15-8 after one quarter.

Alaysia Reed paced Arbor View with 19 points.

Coronado 64, Las Vegas 24 — At Liberty, the Cougars raced to a 29-9 lead after one quarter and rolled past the Wildcats.

Haley Tyrell scored 26 points to lead Coronado, which got 10 points from Teagan Varrati.

Alexiz Jenkins and Cortney Stark each scored eight for Las Vegas.

Faith Lutheran 64, Cheyenne 55 — At Liberty, Kelsey Howryla scored 13 points to lead the Crusaders past the Desert Shields.

Kendall larson, Madison Bocobo, Kayla Proctor and Sydney Southwick each added nine points for Faith Lutheran.

Teionni McDaniel scored 14 points to pace Cheyenne. Germanie White added 12 points, and teammate Almond Slayton had 11 points for the Desert Shields.

Centennial JV 72, Valley 28 — At Liberty, Sydney Fedinec scored 11 to lead the Bulldogs junior varsity to victory over the Vikings.

Jeuzel Pollins had 21 points for Valley.

Vegas Valley Invitational

Rancho 40, Basic 26 — At American Heritage Academy, Kyndal Ricks scored 16 of her 20 points in the second half as the Rams defeated the Wolves for third place in the Vegas Valley Invitational.

Ricks was 12-for-16 from the free-throw line, and made 10 foul shots in the second half.

Alesse Hall added eight points for Rancho, which led 16-15 at the half.

Jasmine Richardson had six points for Basic.

Cimarron-Memorial 50, Rancho 43 — At American Heritage Academy, Elise Young scored 14 points as the Spartans held off the Rams.

Tasia Moore added 13 points for Cimarron, which led 24-20 at the half.

Rancho’s Ricks led all scorers with 18 points.