Kenneth Manoj is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Liberty High School for AZPreps365.com

Liberty came out strong in the second half of Tuesday's game against Pinnacle to bring home the win on Senior Night for the Lions. In a storybook ending to their remarkable season, the Lions clinched their first 6A Desert Valley region title with the 97-74 victory. 

The game was sloppy and physical early on, with both teams committing over six turnovers in the first quarter alone. Lions senior Brett Chappell converted two 3-pointers and finished the quarter with 10 points, while Pioneers senior Elias White used his size inside to post six points and help keep the game tight.

Liberty (14-2) took a 21-20 lead into the second quarter and stretched its lead thanks to consistent offense from Chappell and senior A.J. Snow, scoring seven points apiece in the quarter.

Senior Dorian Singer provided some much-needed offense off the bench for Pinnacle (7-9), scoring a rapid eight points on three straight possessions. But the Lions held firm and took a 47-38 lead into halftime. 

Liberty coach Mark Wood  told his team at the half to expect a comeback from Pinnacle in the second half and implored them to dig deep to break the game open.

"[Coach Wood] told us that we have another gear that we can go to and that we needed to push ourselves there to blow this game out of the water," Snow said after the game. 

The Lions did exactly as their coach asked and found that next gear, outscoring the Pioneers 31-18 in the third quarter. They drilled six threes in the quarter, half of them coming from Chappell. Fellow senior Sebastian Clancy chipped in with six points in the quarter as well, as the Lions led 78-56 heading into the final quarter and never looked back. Senior Brett Chappell taking the corner three in transition. Chappell averages 13.3 points per game on the season. (Kenneth Manoj photo/AZPreps365)

For Liberty, Chappell led the way with 35 points and seven 3-pointers, both career highs. In support, Clancy and Snow put up 11 and 10 points, respectively, off the bench.

Afterward, Chappell shrugged off the personal achievement and focused on what was actually important to him.

"I'm just trying to come out and get the win," he said. "I don't really care about who scored what, just the win mattered. Whatever my team needed, whether that's scoring or defense."Senior Sebastian Clancy cutting his high school nets as friends and family cheer him and his teammates on. (Kenneth Manoj photo/AZPreps365)

For Pinnacle, five players scored in double-figures, but without anyone scoring above 15 the Pioneers were unable to keep up with the Lions' onslaught. Sophomore Bryce Ford led the way with 14 points off the bench, while Singer joined White and sophomore Duece Robinson with 12 points apiece. 

After the game, Wood told the players how proud he was of the team and the work that they put in to achieve their goal as a team. 

"Congrats to these guys, they have represented everything we have ever asked them to, and I am just so proud of them," Wood said.

Coach Wood participating in his first net-cutting ceremony with Liberty. He previously won two region titles with Cactus. (Kenneth Manoj photo/AZPreps365)Looking ahead for Pinnacle, they will look to finish strong and push their record back to .500 on the season. On Thursday they will host Shadow Mountain (1-10) at 5:30 p.m. before finishing the season at home against Chaparral (7-9) at 7 p.m. Friday.

While the Lions have the region title wrapped up, they have two more games to round out the season's schedule. On Thursday they will host Shadow Ridge (7-10) at 7 p.m. for the final regular-season home game, before finishing the season at Mountain Ridge (5-10) at 7 p.m. Friday.