Liberty Creek’s Senior Core Shows Just How Far They’ve Come in Dominant Win Over White House
Four years ago, Liberty Creek’s basketball program was more blueprint than powerhouse. The Wolves were a brand-new school with a team full of freshmen, practicing in a church gym while their campus was still under construction. Fast forward to now, and that same group of players-now seasoned seniors-just extended a 14-game winning streak with an 83-37 statement win over White House.
It’s not just the scoreline that tells the story. It’s the chemistry, the preparation, and the shared experience of a group that’s grown up together-literally and as competitors.
“This group is completely drama-free,” head coach Kari Douglas said. “They’ve grown together, they care about each other so much and they want to show up and win for each other every single day.”
That connection showed early and often. Liberty Creek came out firing with a 24-point first quarter, setting the tone on both ends of the floor. Senior Maisen Lewis led the opening frame with seven points, while the Wolves’ defense swarmed White House, forcing at least five turnovers in each quarter.
Junior Aaryn Lauderdale made her presence felt immediately off the bench. Her defensive energy-active hands, tight on-ball pressure, and anticipation in the passing lanes-helped disrupt the Blue Devils’ rhythm and gave Liberty Creek an edge that never faded.
The second quarter brought even more efficiency. The Wolves locked in defensively with eight more takeaways and started hitting from deep. Senior guard Emerson Fitzwilson caught fire, dropping 10 of her team-high 18 points in the period, including a pair of threes that stretched the floor and broke open the game.
And while the scoring was balanced, it was the Wolves’ unselfishness that stood out. “It doesn’t really matter to us who is scoring, because we have so many girls who can come in and lead the team in points,” Douglas said.
Senior forward Kaylor West, who’s signed to play softball at Western Kentucky, chipped in six points in the second quarter and finished with 13. She anchored the glass and gave Liberty Creek second chances while limiting White House’s looks in the paint.
By halftime, the Wolves were up 47-25, and the game was already slipping away from the Blue Devils.
Still, White House had bright spots. Senior forward Gracie Marion scored eight of her 12 points in the first half and led her team in blocks and rebounds. She was a steady presence on both ends, even as the game tilted heavily in Liberty Creek’s favor.
Lauderdale’s offensive breakout came in the third. After setting the tone defensively in the first half, she shifted gears and attacked the rim relentlessly, scoring eight of her 12 points in the quarter. By the time the fourth rolled around, Liberty Creek had built a 70-31 lead and the result was all but sealed.
Coach Douglas used the final quarter to get her younger players valuable minutes-and they responded. Sophomore guards Rebecca Luttrell and Khloe Domescik both got on the board, with Domescik leading the reserve group with five points. Freshman Ellie Corlew added a bucket as well.
In total, 12 different Wolves scored, including six of the team’s seven seniors. That kind of depth and balance has been a hallmark of this group-and it’s part of what makes them so dangerous heading into the postseason.
They’ve been here before. And they’ve come up short before.
Liberty Creek has been bounced in the first round of the region tournament each of the past three seasons. But this year feels different.
Douglas points to a shift in preparation: deeper film sessions, more detailed scouting reports, and a team-wide buy-in to the little things that separate good teams from great ones.
“We really pride ourselves on our preparation,” she said. “It’s taken some time for them to really understand how important it is to know your opponent through film and scouting reports, but this year they’ve done such a good job of coming in and taking it seriously.”
For West and the rest of the senior class, the growth is personal. “Our team chemistry is at its best this year,” she said.
“We’ve been together for four years now, and all of us, as a whole, just want to win. That’s all.”
Liberty Creek Girls Box Score (83-37 win over White House):
Liberty Creek: Emerson Fitzwilson 18, Kaylor West 13, Aaryn Lauderdale 12, Maisen Lewis 11, Olivia Tate 11, Khloe Domescik 5, Ce’Mya Gregory 3, Delaney Corlew 3, Mia Rives 2, Rebecca Luttrell 2, Ellie Corlew 2, Scarlett Dickerson 1
White House: Gracie Marion 12, Ruby Wright 8, Gracie Rogers 5, Caroline Pond 4, Gracey Short 4, Lily Harris 2, Payton Gray 2
Clifton Hits 1,000 Career Points, Then Puts Liberty Creek on His Back in Win Over White House
Liberty Creek’s boys team had its own Coming Home moment-both figuratively and literally-thanks to senior guard Riley Clifton.
Before tipoff, Clifton was honored as the first player in program history to eclipse 1,000 career points. After tipoff, he made sure the celebration wasn’t just ceremonial. Clifton poured in 27 points and led Liberty Creek to a 56-46 win over White House in a hard-fought District 9-3A battle.
“It was cool to see him come out on a night where he was being recognized for being such a great player, and put up that kind of performance,” said head coach Seth Massey.
Liberty Creek had dropped the first matchup between these two teams 60-56, playing that night without starting wing Drew Massey. This time, they flipped the script.
The first quarter was a tug-of-war. Both teams came out physical and aggressive, trading buckets and defensive stops. The score was tied 9-9 midway through the frame before the Wolves eked out a 12-11 lead at the break.
White House junior guard Talen Flener set the tone early for the Blue Devils with five points in the first and finished with a team-high 13.
But the second quarter belonged to Clifton. He scored 12 of Liberty Creek’s 16 points in the period, staying efficient and deadly-4-of-5 from the field, 2-for-2 from deep. His scoring burst gave the Wolves a 28-21 edge at halftime and had the home crowd buzzing.
White House came out swinging in the third. The Blue Devils dropped 21 points in the quarter and held Liberty Creek to just eight. Junior Cameron Stahl and senior Louis Taylor combined for 13 points in the frame, and by the time the dust settled, White House had flipped the game and taken a 42-36 lead into the fourth.
But Liberty Creek didn’t flinch.
“We’ve been in those situations all year,” Massey said. “And we keep figuring out how to come out on the right side of them.”
Clifton made sure of it. He scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, including a go-ahead jumper that gave the Wolves a lead they never gave back. Liberty Creek outscored White House 20-4 down the stretch, closing the game at the free-throw line and locking up a crucial district win.
No other Liberty Creek player reached double figures, but it didn’t matter. Clifton’s performance was the difference-and a fitting way to celebrate a milestone night.
Liberty Creek moved to 12-12 (2-4 in district play) and hosted Springfield next. White House, now 11-11 (3-4), looked to regroup in its own matchup with the Yellow Jackets.
Liberty Creek Boys Box Score (56-46 win over White House):
Liberty Creek: Riley Clifton 27
White House: Talen Flener 13, Cameron Stahl and Louis Taylor (combined 13 in third quarter), other scorers not listed in detail
Bottom Line:
For both the girls and boys squads at Liberty Creek, Friday night wasn’t just about wins-it was about growth, grit, and the payoff that comes from sticking together through the tough years.
The Wolves aren’t just building a program anymore. They’re becoming a force.