Basketball Recap: Dante Steward's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Liberty over Desert Pines

Liberty and Desert Pines squared off in some playoff action on Friday, but Liberty had to settle for second. They took a 66-62 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Desert Pines Jaguars. The Patriots were not able to repeat the success they had when they faced the Jaguars earlier this season, when they won 64-51.

Dante Steward

Rebounds (Career)

02/14/25 vs Desert Pines	16
01/10/24 vs Spring Valley	12
02/05/25 vs Desert Pines	11
01/17/25 vs Durango	11
12/21/24 vs Crean Lutheran	11

Liberty lost despite a true team effort on offense. The best among them was Dante Steward, who shot 4-for-7 from long range and dropped a double-double with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Those 16 boards gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Taytum Cios-Webb, who posted ten points in addition to eight rebounds and four steals.

Even though they lost, Liberty smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 17 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive rebounds in 11 consecutive matchups.

Desert Pines got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Aaron McMorran out in front who had 19 points and five boards. The contest was McMorran's fifth in a row with at least 15 points. Tyler Merto was another key player, going 6-for-9 on his way to 15 points and seven rebounds.

Liberty's defeat dropped their record down to 13-11. As for Desert Pines, the win made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 10-10.

Liberty does not have any more games scheduled as of now. As for Desert Pines, they wasted no time getting back out on the court and have already played their next game, a 67-57 loss against Bishop Gorman on the 19th.