Dell Takes Over Friend Program

Isaiah Dell, Liberty's C Team coach from this past season, will become the head boy's basketball coach at Friend High School in Friend, Nebraska. Friend is 35 miles southwest of Lincoln, Nebraska. Coach Dell spent just one season on the staff at Liberty High School and will be sorely missed. He led the C Team to a 6-6 record on the season.

"I am very happy for Coach Dell and wish him nothing but the best with this new position," said head coach Mike Morley. "He was a very key component in our success this past season."

Dell will be replaced on staff by Zach Werner.

Werner To Replace Dell On Staff

Liberty Junior High School 8th grade coach Zach Werner will take over the C Team job for next season. Werner is a Social Studies teacher at Liberty High School and has spent the last two seasons coaching the 8th graders. Werner will be in charge of the C Team and be a big part of the scouting and on floor coaching for the varsity team as well.

Summer Camp Dates Set

The Liberty girls basketball program will be hosting four camps this summer for girls ranging in ages from 3rd grade through 12th grade. There will be two camps in June and two camps in July this summer. The cost for each camp is $40.

Day Camp, June 7th-10th at South Valley Junior High School.
3rd-5th Grade Day Camp: 8:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
6th-8th Grade Day Camp: 10:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Day Camp, July 19th-22nd at Liberty High School.
9th-12th Grade Day Camp: 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Shooting Camp, July 19th-22nd at Liberty High School
3rd-8th Grade Shooting Camp: 12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

Coach Jack Smith Honored

Liberty assistant coach Jack Smith was awarded with the Greater Kansas City Basketball Coaches Association, Tom Colwell Lifetime Achievement Award last night at the annual GKCBCA banquet held at the Independence Event Center.

Liberty High School 1967 graduate Jack Smith has been roaming football sidelines at William Jewell College and sitting on benches at Kansas City gymnasiums for 44 years serving as the Liberty Blue Jay team manager. For his efforts, Smith will be recognized on Saturday, April 10, as the recipient of the Tom Colwell Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Greater Kansas City Basketball Coaches Association. The awards banquet will be held at the Independence Events Center and is a part of the Missouri/Kansas All-Star games, the DiRenna Awards, and All-Academic Teams.

The Tom Colwell Lifetime Achievement Award is a “who’s who” of Kansas City basketball. Past recipients have included former William Jewell College assistant basketball coach Lee Kariker and longtime Raytown coach and administrator Tom Goddard.

Smith, 63, helps both boys and girls basketball programs at Liberty High serving as team manager and also is the ball boy for the Blue Jay Football Team. For the past four years he has served as program assistant for the Boys Basketball Team.

“Jack means a lot to our program,” said Liberty Boys Head Basketball Coach Roger Stirtz. “He’s always excited about the team and how he can help them. But most importantly, Jack is about helping others. That’s why this award is so special…it’s time for us give to Jack and recognize him for everything he’s done for us.”

Jays Ranked #8 In Final Poll

Finishing the season 22-7, winning the Suburban Big 7 Conference and making it to the state quarterfinals were enough to have Liberty ranked #8 in the final Missouri Sportswriters & Sportscasters Association poll. The Jays were ranked as high as #6 during the season.

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