Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

NORTH LIBERTY – Senior guard Madeline Casey has been a big part of the three most successful seasons in Liberty High history.

This season Casey has already picked up on a different vibe around the Liberty High program.

“Our team this year has a different feel, a different energy,” Casey said. “All of us are just working together and building that chemistry.”

That different energy resulted in a much different start to the season than the Lightning had a year ago.

A year ago Liberty High lost its opener at Southeast Polk 71-43 leading to an 0-3 start to the season.

On Monday the Lightning looked – well – different.

Liberty High had three players in double figures in a 63-55 win over Southeast Polk in the season opener for both teams in North Liberty.

“Those first-game jitters were there but the big thing we talk about is staying together this year,” Liberty High coach Jamie Brandt said. “I don’t think I’ve had a team this invested in each other and I think that showed tonight.”

Natalie Ramsey scored 24 of her game-high 28 points in the second half as Liberty High earned its first win over Southeast Polk in five attempts over the past three seasons.

Casey added 12 points and junior Kennedy Goodheart had 11 as Liberty High won its opener for the third time in the past four seasons.

“It’s always great to get the first game under your belt,” Ramsey said. “To get a win against a good team in the first game feels really good.”

It looked like the opening game of the season for both teams for most of the game.

The two teams combined for 48 fouls and 37 turnovers and made a combined 13 of 54 3-point attempts.

It was Liberty High that was able to find its offensive footing late.

“I think we talked better and we played better as a team in the second half,” Ramsey said. “I felt like we were just more in control of the game.”

Liberty High led 26-24 at the half but Southeast Polk made six free throws and three 3-pointers in the third quarter while taking a 43-42 lead.

Ramsey scored seven points during an 8-0 Liberty High run to open the fourth quarter that gave the Lightning the lead for good.

The 5-foot-11 junior opened the fourth quarter with a conventional 3-point play and hit a pair of free throws to give the Lightning a 47-43 lead.

“Our big thing as a team was to get our energy up,” Ramsey said. “I needed to make sure I was taking my shots and not settling.”

Ramsey scored on a transition layup following a Southeast Polk turnover to push the margin to 50-43.

Liberty High held the Rams scoreless for more than four minutes to end the third and start the fourth quarters.

“It’s big for us to play good defense because that leads to better offense for us,” Ramsey said. “Getting into transition was a big part of the conversation for us.”

Southeast Polk never got closed than four points the rest of the way.

Ava Casey had five points and freshman Natalie Schechinger had seven rebounds for the Lightning.

Alyssa Bartlett had 19 points and Zoe Hinze had 15 points for Southeast Polk.

“Last season we played them in our opener and we got killed by them so to be on the other side is a great feeling,” Casey said. “We are not even as good as we could be right now so this is great to see how good we could be.”

Southeast Polk          10  14  19  12  –  55

Liberty High              10  16  16  21  –  63

Southeast Polk (55) – Margaret Johnson 2-3 0-1 4, Zoe Hinze 5-10 2-4 15, Brooklyn Ruddy 0-3 0-0 0, Ella Wheatly 0-1 0-0 0, Alyssa Bartlett 4-16 10-12 19, Berkley Weiland 0-0 2-2 2, Allison Bogwill 0-5 0-0 0, Halle Clark 3-9 3-6 12, Presley Zeutenhorst 0-1 0-0 0, Olivia Twohey 1-3 0-0 3, Totals 15-51 17-25 55.

Liberty High (63) – Ava Casey 1-5 3-6 5, Janessa Mosley 0-2 0-0 0, Natalie Schechinger 1-1 0-0 2, Kennedy Goodheart 2-9 5-6 11, Sydney Van Heukelom 0-0 2-4 2, Morgan Bennett 0-2 0-0 0, Madilyn Meyer 1-1 0-0 3, Natalie Ramsey 11-23 6-6 28, Madeline Casey 5-15 0-0 12, Totals 21-58 16-22 63.

3-point field goals – Liberty High 5-24 (A. Casey 0-2, Mosley 0-1, Goodheart 2-7, Meyer 1-1, Ramsey 0-4, M. Casey 2-9), Southeast Polk (Hinze 3-7, Ruddy 0-2, Bartlett 1-9, Bogwill 0-2, Clark 3-6, Zeutenhorst 0-1, Twohey 1-3). Rebounds – Liberty High 44 (Ramsey 13), Southeast Polk 38 (Bartlett 7). Turnovers – Liberty High 19, Southeast Polk 18. Total fouls – Liberty High 27, Southeast Polk 21. Fouled out – Liberty High (Schechinger), Southeast Polk (Johnson, Hinze). Technical fouls – Liberty High bench

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