LHHS Basketball Program 2020

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LHHS BASKETBALL PROGRAM

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Panthers ready for a fight

Moving to Class 5A presents new challenges

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Barry Boren has known for quite some time his Liberty Hill boys’ basketball squad would be moving up the hoops ladder to compete in a higher classification.

After all, with the continued growth of the school district, it was only a matter of time before he and his team would be thrown into the cauldron of Class 5A competition.

“We all expected to go 5A at some point,” said Boren. “We felt all along it was time and we were relatively prepared. We’ve been playing in a 5A/6A fall league for the last 15 years as the only 4A. We never won the league, but we were always competitive. We’ve also played a competitive schedule with multiple 5A, 6A and good private schools mixed in.”

Make no mistake, a district championship is still the goal for Boren and his club – as it always is – but, the rugged landscape of their new schedule means the Panthers must be on point each and every time they step on the court.

Add in the fact the bigger schools they’ll be up against have larger talent pools to draw players from and there’s a potential difference at the end of the bench, said Boren.

“The difference now is instead of a district where we expect to win the championship at every level, we are in for a dogfight each and every night,” he said. “It isn’t a question of talent or skill – it’s a difference in depth. We have very skilled players. We just don’t have as many as the schools we’ll be playing, which is noticeable in the competition you see daily in practice situations. At larger schools, there are more players with skill, therefore the look in practice is more like what you’ll see on game night. Still, we be4

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lieve we’re going to be in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs and in the quest for a championship.”

Liberty Hill will be playing in District 25, which features nearby neighbors including the two Georgetown schools, the three in Leander, Cedar Park and Marble Falls.

According to Boren, the Panthers are in for a rough go – not only during the district schedule, but perhaps even more so if they reach the postseason, as District 26 lies across the playoff bracket at the bi-district level, which includes schools such as Alamo Heights, Boerne Champion, Dripping Springs and Veterans Memorial.

“District 25-5A is a very tough district – it and the district we play into for the playoffs are the two toughest in 5A-Region IV. Our district is loaded. Five of the eight teams went to the playoffs last year.”

Leander is ranked No. 7 in the state entering the season and present the toughest opposition for Liberty Hill. The Lions qualified for the playoffs in Class 6A last season before moving back down to 5A for this year and have the best player in the district in 6-foot-6 senior Nelson Robledo, as well as a 6-foot-10 center.

“We scrimmaged Leander last year and lost by one,” said Boren. “Then, there’s Glenn, who won 27 games last year, made the playoffs and have everyone back including Jalen Thompson, a 6-foot3 high-flying senior who has started since he was a freshman. We were beaten by one and two points by Glenn last year.”

Cedar Park won its district last season with a 27-6 overall record, were 11-1 in district play and have qualified for state twice in the past decade.

LH INDEPENDENT PHOTO

Senior Kadin Knight (#12) is one of the players Liberty Hill head coach Barry Boren will depend on this season as the Panthers move up to Class 5A. “They beat us by 10 in the ing to Glenn twice (65-64, 56championship of a tournament 54) and Cedar Park (61-51). last year,” said Boren, of the Leander and Rouse are the Timberwolves. “Georgetown only schools in the new district was also a 5A playoff team last the Panthers didn’t play last year.” season, but Boren has much Marble Falls and East View experience against the latare also on the schedule and ter from previous seasons. present unique challenges of “We’ve played Rouse their own, he said. many times in the past,” he “Marble Falls is better this year said. “They’re well-coached – they have a 7-foot high jumper and have a large school enrolland a two-year starter at point ment, so they’ll be a formidable guard,” said Boren. “East View opponent, as well.” is also better. They had a new Boren acknowledged the coach last year and he knows rough road ahead for the Panabout winning as he played thers, but is taking a time-honon a state champion at Argyle ored approach toward the camwhile playing for his father.” paign.

Liberty Hill played five of the “We’re pleased with the progseven teams in its new district ress of our team so far,” he said. last season in non-league play “But, we know it’s a long season and had good results in defeat- with many twists and turns. We ing Georgetown (70-44), East take nothing for granted and View twice (86-47, 72-53) and are trying to play to the mantra Marble Falls (74-67), while los- ‘one game at a time.’”

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HEAD COACH BARRY BOREN Barry Boren is the Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at Liberty Hill High School. He is in his 19th year at the helm of the Runnin’ Panthers, and his 42nd year as a teacher/coach (37 as a Head Coach.)

Coach Boren is a native of Fort Worth where he graduated from Haltom High School and Texas Wesleyan University with a B.A. in English and a Minor in Physical Education. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Sue Ann, and is the proud father of three children and seven grandchildren.

The Boren family is one of teachers. His wife is a retired teacher. His oldest daughter, Shae, is a former teacher who now works in the church with her husband, Jake. He is a former teacher/coach now in the ministry. They have three children. Daughter number two, Brittany, is a former teacher who now does sales from home. She is married to

Nick who is a naval officer and flight instructor. They also have three children. Then, there is son, Blake, who serves as the Assistant to the Head Coach.

He, and his wife, Kristina, both teach at LHHS. They have one child. There are literally students who have come through LH that have been taught by five different Borens!

When Coach Boren is not coaching, he still loves having something to do with basketball. He routinely can be found keeping the gym open for his players and former players.

He also has a large, full day camp every summer. In addition, he has part-owned an overnight camp that was originally housed on the campus of Texas A&M/Commerce (Texas Prep Basketball School) for 15 years. During the summer, he also tries to follow the playing path of his upcoming players while on the AAU circuit.

Prior to coming to Liberty Hill,

Boren coached at Keller Fossil Ridge HS (3 years), Little Cypress-Mauriceville HS (6 years), Terrell HS (6 years), Kaufman HS (3 years), FW Richland Jr. High (2 years), FW Monsignor Robert Nolan HS (1 year), FW Watauga Jr. High (1 year), Keller Middle School (1 year). Coach Boren has never been a basketball assistant.

Even at the middle and junior

high schools, he was in charge of the entire program.

In Coach Boren’s lengthy career, he has had many former assistants who have gone on to become Head Coaches, Principals, and Superintendents. He has also had players who have gone on to play at the collegiate and professional levels in various sports.

ASSISTANT COACHES

BLAKE BOREN JV Head Coach

TOMMY FOSTER Freshman Team Coach

www.libertyhill.txed.net LHHS BASKETBALL PROGRAM

The 2020-2021 Liberty Hill Basketball Program is produced for the Liberty Hill High School Athletic Department by THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT. The entire contents of the 2020-2021 Liberty Hill Basketball Program, including editorial and advertising copy, is protected under the Federal Copyright Act. Reproduction of any portion of the publication will not be permitted without the express written permission of The Liberty Hill Independent, (512) 778-5577, news@LHIndependent.com, PO Box 1235, Liberty Hill, TX 78642.

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Nov 7 Nov 10 Nov 13 Nov 14 Nov 17 Nov 21 Nov 23 Nov 24 Dec 1 Dec 4 Dec 5 Dec 8 Dec 12 Dec 15 Dec 18 Dec 22 Dec 29 Dec 30 Jan 5 Jan 8 Jan 12 Jan 15 Jan 19 Jan 22 Jan 26 Jan 29 Feb 2 Feb 5 Feb 9

@Anderson (Scrim) Dripping Sprg/Rnd Rock @Lago Vista Copperas Cove @St. Michael’s Little River Academy Hays Johnson @Pflugerville Connally China Spring NE Early College @Wimberley Hutto @Dominic Savio Cedar Park @Marble Falls Leander RR Raiders @Glen Rose Georgetown @Glenn @East View Rouse @Cedar Park Marble Falls @Leander @Georgetown Glenn East View @Rouse

10:00 5:30 6:30 2:30 8:00 5:00 8:00 8:00 8:00 8:00 5:00 8:00 7:30 8:00 8:00 2:00 5:00 12:45 8:00 8:00 8:00 8:00 8:00 8:00 8:00 8:00 8:00 8:00 8:00

RUNNIN’ PANTHERS 2020-2021 VARSITY NUMBER

NAME

HEIGHT

4 5 10 11 12 15 20 22 24 25 32 33 34

Cayden Branch Zane Lauper Anthony Sierras Bobby Mundy Kadin Knight RJ Sanchez Hunter Clayton Gunter Daniels Camden Justice Kaden McMahan Bobby Haddaway Aaron Brewer Walker Weems

6’1” 6’0” 6’3” 6’0” 6’1” 5’11” 5’11” 6’4” 6’2” 6’3” 6’3” 6’5” 6’5”

POSITION

CLASS

Guard Guard Forward Guard Guard Guard Guard Forward Forward Forward Post Post Forward

10 11 11 12 12 11 12 10 10 11 12 11 11

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2020-2021 RUNNIN’ PANTHERS

CAYDEN BRANCH Guard - 6’1”

ZANE LAUPER Guard - 6’0”

ANTHONY SIERRAS Forward - 6’3”

BOBBY MUNDY Guard - 6’0”

KADIN KNIGHT Guard - 6’1”

RJ SANCHEZ Guard - 5’11”

HUNTER CLAYTON Guard - 5’11”

GUNTER DANIELS Forward - 6’4”

CAMDEN JUSTICE Forward - 6’2”

KADEN MCMAHAN Forward - 6’3”

BOBBY HADDAWAY Post - 6’3”

AARON BREWER Post - 6’5”

WALKER WEEMS Forward - 6’5” 8

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No worries as Lady Panthers move up Liberty Hill girls are ready for the challenge of Class 5A

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Don’t ask Liberty Hill head girls’ basketball coach Chris Lange about he and his team moving up to Class 5A this season.

“I really don’t get caught up in all that stuff,” said Lange.

“There are good teams in every classification.”

For the record, the Lady Panthers will play in District 25 this year, which features the Georgetown and Leander schools, along with Cedar Park and Marble Falls – a far cry from the likes of small-town teams such as Burnet, Taylor and Lampasas of years past.

However, despite the step up in class, Lange is confident his players have what it takes to make the transition a successful one.

“Our girls don’t back down from a challenge,” he said.

“They know what they’re getting into, so there won’t be any surprises.”

Liberty Hill’s opponents will feature three clubs ranked in the top 25 in the state, including Cedar Park, Georgetown and Rouse, which will provide plenty of rugged competition, but the Lady Panthers played plenty of tough teams leading up to league play, which will ready them for what lies ahead.

Class 6A schools such as Copperas Cove, Killeen Ellison, Vandegrift, Killeen, Belton and Kileen Shoemaker were all on Liberty Hill’s early-season schedule, meaning matching up against bigger schools will be nothing new.

Lange had extra coaching homework in getting ready for the district season this year, as all of a sudden, there are seven brand-new squads to become familiar with after years of facing the usual suspects, but it’s an ongoing process to be completely integrated with new surroundings, he said.

“It’s really something that takes three or four years,” said Lange. “Learning each coach’s tendencies, but then every time a coach changes, you need to

adjust.”

One thing is for sure, though.

No easy games.

“We can’t afford to take a night off,” he said. “People aren’t going to care we’re Liberty Hill and have all those district championships – I know Cedar Park and Georgetown won’t, but they’ve seen us play and know what we can do.”

The annual Jack Frost tournament – hosted by Georgetown each Christmas season – has been a measuring stick for the Lady Panthers in seasons past as far as playing up in class, including last season when the Purple-and-Gold finished third with a 2-1 record.

Still, the new district is formidable, including Cedar Park, which has been ranked as high as No. 2 in the state and is coming off a season which saw the Lady Timberwolves post an overall record of 33-4 to go with a perfect 12-0 district mark and a run all the way to the regional finals.

“They’ll be well-coached and very disciplined,” said Lange.

“They play 100 percent all the time, are fast and athletic and can run the floor.”

Georgetown is also ranked and was 26-10 last year, finishing second in its district with a 10-2 mark behind champions East View (27-6, 11-1).

“Georgetown is solid and wellcoached,” said Lange. “They have a system, know how to adapt and have some size.

East View isn’t super-tall, but they’re going to push the ball and press.”

Liberty Hill played both Leander and Glenn last year, picking up a 40-29 road win over the Lions and a 54-33 home victory against the Grizzlies.

“Glenn is better than in previous years, but for them it’s about keeping the right kids in the program and having a solid group to build around,” he said.

“Leander has a good coach – although there isn’t a coach in this entire district who doesn’t do things the right way.”

LH INDEPENDENT PHOTO

Senior guard Jessica Holliday (#2) is one of the Lady Panthers who must step up this season as Liberty Hill moves up to Class 5A. Rouse is somewhat of an unBut, despite all the challenges which lie ahead for the Lady known entity, said Lange.

“I think with them there’s been Panthers in their new basketball a difference this season be- world, Lange is steadfast in one tween what you thought they belief – which should propel his were going to be and what they team to success.

“Basketball is about five playactually are,” he said. “They’ve ers playing together,” he said. been putting things together.”

Finally, Marble Falls rounds “If you can do that, you give out the field and the Mustangs yourself an opportunity to do aren’t so different from his some things.”

However, he admits many own team in one respect, said schools simply want to beat Lange.

“They’re a typical country team Liberty Hill because of who they and I don’t mean that in a dis- are. respectful way,” he said. “They “I feel like everybody wants graduated a lot of people, but to beat us,” said Lange. “But, I are disciplined and organized in want to beat them all, too.” what they do.”

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Oct 21 Oct 31 Nov 2

COACH CHRIS LANGE

Chris Lange is a 1988 graduate of Liberty Hill High School.

He earned a degree from University of Mary Hardin Baylor, where he began his coaching career as the Lady Crusaders’ Student Assistant Coach.

He spent the next 13 years coaching in Temple, where he worked as the Junior High Girls’ Athletic Coordinator before moving up to be the varsity assistant for the Lady Tem-Cats.

Wanting a change for his family, he and his wife, Patience, moved back to his alma mater, Liberty Hill. Again, he started as the Junior High Girls’ Athletic Coordinator. He is now the Lady Panther Varsity Coach at Liberty Hill High School.

Lange was lucky enough to coach both of his children, Autumn and Garrett, during their junior high basketball careers. When he got the varsity job, he was able to coach his

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TBA

Nov 7 2:30 ASSISTANT COACHES Nov 10 7:30 Nov 13 Nov 14 Nov 17 Nov 20 Nov 23 Nov 24 Dec 1 Dec 4

HALEY HUDNALL

daughter, Autumn, again as a senior.

Coach Lange and his wife are enjoying their new phase in life as empty-nesters. Both kids are now attending Angelo State University.

Coach Lange is starting his sixth year as head coach of the Lady Panthers and 13th year at Liberty Hill High School. He helped lead the Lady Panthers to four deep runs into the playoffs.

1st Practice TBA Cedar Park & Midway (scrim) Killeen Gatesville TBA Copperas Cove Killeen Ellison Vandegrift Fredericksburg Belton Salado Killeen Shoemaker

Dec 8 Dec 11 Dec 15 Dec 18 Dec 22 Dec 30 Jan 5 Jan 8 Jan 12 Jan 15 Jan 19 Jan 22 Jan 26 Jan 29 Feb 2

DAYNA DOAN

@East View Rouse @Cedar Park Marble Falls @Leander @Burnet @Georgetown Glenn East View @Rouse Cedar Park @Marble Falls Leander Georgetown @Glenn

1:00 7:00 8:00 2:30 6:00 6:30 7:00 PATRICK HUGHES

8:00 8:00 8:00 8:00 2:00 12:30 8:00 8:00 8:00 8:00 8:00 8:00 8:00 8:00 8:00

LIBERTY HILL LADY PANTHERS 2020-2021 VARSITY HEAD COACH Chris Lange | ASSISTANT COACHES Haley Hudnall, Dayna Doan, Patrick Hughes

NUMBER

NAME

HEIGHT

POSITION

CLASS

2 Jessica Holliday 5’7” Guard 12 3 Regan Walker 5’4” Guard 11 4 Madison Walker 5’4” Guard 11 5 Taylor Swieczkowski 5’7” Guard 12 10 Ashlyn Calhoun 5’6” Guard 11 11 Sopia Stafford 5’9” Forward 12 12 Baylee Laird 5’5” Forward 12 14 McKenzy Wise 5’8” Forward 11 15 Avery Harrell 5’5” Guard 12 20 Olivia House 5’8” Guard 12 21 Gloria Kostroun 6’0” Guard 12 22 Olivia Shelton 5’9” Guard 12 23 Morgan Jackson 5’6” Guard 12 25 Emma Hubbard 6’0” Center 11 32 Ashton Jordan 5’11” Center 12

LHHS BASKETBALL PROGRAM

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2020-2021 LADY PANTHERS

JESSICA HOLLIDAY #2 - Guard - 5’7”

REGAN WALKER #3 - Guard - 5’4”

MADISON WALKER #4 - Guard - 5’4”

TAYLOR SWIECZKOWSKI #5 - Guard - 5’7”

ASHLYN CALHOUN #10 - Guard - 5’6”

SOPHIA STAFFORD #11 - Forward - 5’9”

BAYLEE LAIRD #12- Forward - 5’5”

MCKENZY WISE #14 - Forward - 5’8”

AVERY HARRELL #15 - Guard - 5’5”

OLIVIA HOUSE #20 - Guard - 5’8”

GLORIA KOSTROUN #21 - Guard - 6’0”

OLIVIA SHELTON #22 - Guard - 5’9”

MORGAN JACKSON #23 - Guard - 5’6”

EMMA HUBBARD # 25 - Center - 6’0”

ASHTON JORDAN #32 - Center - 5’11” LHHS BASKETBALL PROGRAM

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