CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — After watching a 16-point halftime lead completely disappear early in the fourth quarter, Liberty Harrison head coach Zak Bart knew what his team had to do down the stretch to regain the advantage and advance in the Class AA Region II tournament.
With the game tied at 43 and five minutes showing on the fourth-quarter clock, Bart’s Mountaineers used a 6-0 run to take a lead they would not relinquish in a 55-50 win over Petersburg.
“We missed some layups to start the half,” Bart said. “We finally made our layups and free throws down the stretch.”
Playing in their final home game in school history, the Mountaineers showed poise in the closing minutes to move one win away from securing a state tournament berth.
“This bunch is just a loose bunch. I get on them at practice because, if you watched our last two practices, you couldn’t tell there was a regional game today. You couldn’t tell this might be the last game in school history, or our last home game.
“Their backgrounds, if you look at where these kids come from in their high school careers, they have been guys that have been misfits at other programs or through our system. Outside of two guys, no one here had varsity experience coming into this year. To not just lose their minds and stay humble and grind through that win was impressive.”
Liberty (11-12) defeated the Vikings (12-11) twice during the regular season by eight points and four points respectively. The Mountaineers opened the game on a 12-0 run and they led 12-5 after the first quarter.
“We had a lot of familiarity with them playing them twice already. We have been working on going against box-and-one for about a month now. I kept saying to the guys, ‘Somebody is going to come out of it eventually on Baustin [Bowers]’. Jeremih Williams got them out of it quick with two big threes.”
Liberty led 30-14 at halftime. However, the Vikings used an 11-3 third-quarter run to pull within three points at 38-35. The Vikings drew even two minutes into the fourth quarter, tying the game at 43.
“They are a very good team that goes on runs. It just came down to making layups and free throws.”
On his birthday, Liberty Harrison head coach Zak Bart cuts down the net after winning the school’s final home game, 55-50 over Petersburg: #wvprepbb pic.twitter.com/9hGqDApv99
— Joe Brocato (@joebrowvm) March 8, 2025
Bowers stepped up for the Mountaineers, scoring consecutive baskets to spark the game-winning 6-0 run.
“He is just a guy that goes out and makes big plays for us when things matter. The guys know to get the ball in his hands.”
Bowers scored 13 points for the Mountaineers. Jackson Stark led LHS with 16 points and Williams added 11. Payton Metheny led the Vikings with 20 points.
Liberty High School is set to close at the end of the academic year and students will be merged into Robert C. Byrd High School.
“To celebrate with the students that are still here and the past students that showed up, the kids that I have had in class, it will be a great memory. I am going to be real sad to lose this program and this school.”
Liberty will travel to face top-seeded Doddridge County Wednesday in the regional co-finals. The winner advances to the Class AA state tournament. Doddridge (19-4) defeated Liberty, 61-50 on December 17.
“We got Doddridge very early in the season when we were very raw. We’re going to go into that game with a lot of confidence and a little bit of house money. We’re going to be ready. Count on it.”