Liberty 76, Garfield 74
In another high-stakes, loser-out battle at Bellevue College, the Garfield Bulldogs faced off against the Liberty Patriots in a game that delivered intensity from start to finish.
From the opening tip, both teams started off strong. Possessions swung quickly back and forth in a fast-paced first quarter. Liberty found an early spark in Jackson Whitaker, who scored five first-quarter points for the Patriots. But Garfield countered with Ohmono Bomet, who exploded for 12 first-quarter points, highlighted by a powerful dunk, to give the Bulldogs a slim 16-15 lead heading into the second quarter.
The second quarter turned into an offensive battle. Bomet stayed aggressive, knocking down a three-point shot to extend Garfield’s momentum. Teammate Kayden Brooks provided a major boost as well, pouring in 10 points during the quarter, including two three-pointers. Still, Whitaker refused to let Liberty fall behind as he erupted for 13 second-quarter points to keep the Patriots in the game. Even so, Garfield maintained control of the game and carried a 42-39 lead into halftime.
During the third quarter, the back-and-forth battle continued. Bomet and Whitaker went head-to-head, trading baskets and three-point shots as each team matched the other’s intensity. By the end of the quarter, Garfield still held on to a narrow advantage, leading 60-55 going into the fourth quarter.
But with their season on the line, the Patriots didn’t back down.
Whitaker, already having a standout night for Liberty, managed to make two key three-pointers to start Liberty’s comeback. Tyson Burley followed with a pair of three-point shots of his own to swing momentum to the Patriots as the game was entering its final minutes.
However, Garfield fought to the final whistle. Brooks came up with two fourth-quarter steals, and Bomet added 11 more points in a determined effort to will his team to victory as the Bulldogs matched the Patriots shot for shot. However, it wasn’t enough as the Bulldogs saw their season come to an end as Liberty secured a 76-74 victory over Garfield.
Whitaker had a game-high 36 points for Liberty, while Bomet finished with 33 points for Garfield, with Brooks adding 22 points for the Bulldogs.
Photos/Aaron Allen
