Basketball Game Preview: Liberty Eagles vs. Pittsfield Saukees

The Liberty Eagles will square off against the Pittsfield Saukees at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Liberty is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 50.9 points per game this season.

Liberty will roll into the game after a wild two-game stretch: they only put up 29 points on Friday, then bounced right back against Rushville-Industry on Monday. Liberty was the clear victors by a 59-37 margin over Rushville-Industry. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest victory the Eagles have posted since December 17, 2024.

Vince Cramsey

Points

02/17/25 vs Rushville-Industry	23
02/14/25 @ Quincy Notre Dame	9
02/10/25 vs Hamilton/Warsaw	8
02/08/25 vs Monroe City	6
02/07/25 @ Seymour	24
+ 18 more games

Liberty can attribute much of their success to Reed Sparrow, who went 7-for-15 on his way to 20 points along with five boards and three steals, and Vince Cramsey, who went 9-for-19 to rack up 23 points. Cramsey continues to improve, besting his previous point total in each of the last three games he's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Jack Sparrow, who posted eight points and four steals.

Meanwhile, Pittsfield lost to Calhoun on the road by a 52-34 margin on Wednesday. While losing is never fun, the Saukees can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Illinois basketball rankings (they are ranked 565th, while the Warriors are ranked 208th).

Pittsfield has also been struggling recently as they've lost seven of their last eight contests, which has put a noticeable dent in their 8-17 record this season. As for Liberty, their win bumped their record up to 17-12.

Liberty came up short against Pittsfield in their previous meeting back in November of 2024, falling 45-39. Can Liberty avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.