Pumping iron pays big dividends for Lions

Liberty 53, FSK 40

Dan Martinez, a rising junior, scored 15 points. Ryan Miller, already one of the necessary varsity cogs and a rising senior, added nine points, helping Liberty cruise.

‘‘It’s more about getting the kids ready for the next year,” Miller said. ‘‘Everyone likes to win, but it’s really about getting people playing time, getting people ready for the season. A lot of kids are out playing other sports.”

While cycling through the 10 available players, Zac Sleight was limited to only three points, instead allowing players like Chris Thompson to dump in seven. Colton Weaver, who was also a starter his junior year, was not available for the game, as he’s currently at a football camp at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va.

But even with only three of the four shooters, Liberty improved to 5-2 in the league, wearing out a physically exhausted FSK team.

‘‘We’re usually an intense team,” Martinez said. ‘‘We try to run fast, get up the court, and wear down the other team. We try to stay in shape. That’s why we’re here.”

Miller has taken up an unofficial role of weightlifting coach for the team.

‘‘A bunch of my buddies and I have been trying to meet over at Merritt [Athletic Club], we’re trying to do it Monday through Friday,” Miller said.

Initially, it started with Miller and Sleight, and lately other teammates have been joining in. Miller has been adding different workout regimes from previous sports and trainers.

‘‘I’ve been doing it to get ready for this year and possibly if I have a chance, to play at the next level,” Miller said. ‘‘As a guard, I’m undersized. So I have to try to get strong to play in college.”

He noted that some of the other teammates, like Weaver, tend to get their lifting done for other sports. But the fitness level that Liberty wants could be one of their best attack methods.

‘‘We love to play run and gun, pushing the tempo,” Miller said. ‘‘As you can see, we’re very undersized versus every team in the county, and every other team that we’re going to play.

‘‘We like to push the ball and try to take that height advantage away from them. We can play the half court, but we’d much rather be running and gunning, pressing and running the fast break.”

With only two more regular league games slated before the championship games on Thursday, July 26, Liberty is holding onto a first-place tie with Century.

‘‘We were talking about it today and we were wondering who was in second place,” Miller said.

The debate was also up for what winning the league actually meant, as Liberty is still strongly focused on just getting better for the regular season. But Martinez noted that winning it would mean something.

‘‘For a confidence builder, yes,” he said. ‘‘It gives us a good run into the season.”