Few teams may be playing better than the Liberty girls basketball team heading into the Class 5 playoffs this season. Before a sectional matchup with William Chrisman on Wednesday, March 3, the Blue Jays had won 12 of their past 13 games.

They own two victories against defending Class 5 state runner-up Blue Springs and coach Mike Morley thought his team turned a corner in its district championship win against St. Joseph Central.

“When we can fly around like that and get to where we need to get and pressure the ball to where they can’t find people right away, we are a pretty good team,” Morley said. “(Saturday) is how we looked really early in the year. I am hoping that can carry over for us.”

The Blue Jays will be without junior guards Kaysie Clark and Shea Groom during this postseason run. Clark and Groom both have missed time due to soccer obligations, and Morley said it was a tough decision, but he made the decision from a stability standpoint.

“The team we had out there for the district finals is who you will see (at sectionals),” Morley said. “Now we know who we are going to the battle with. They can’t rely on Kaysie to bail them out or Shea to bail them out with their athleticism. Now they have to lock in and do things the right way. I like our chances if we can do that all the way through.”

The Blue Jays met up with William Chrisman for the first time this season in the sectional game at the Independence Events Center. Chrisman was led by senior center Brittany McQuain, who signed with Quinnipiac University, and freshman guard Brooke Parton.

“McQuain is going D-I, and she is a load inside,” Morley said. “They’re not as big overall, but they are very similar to St. Joe Central. They have good inside game and shooters on the perimeter. They are good athletes. They will play all 2-3 zone and maybe sprinkle in a little man.”

Morley said it was important for his team to shoot a little bit better from the outside.

“We haven’t been a great outside shooting team, so if we can start hitting those outside shots we will be pretty tough,” Morley said.

The Blue Jays have been to the sectional game three of the last four years. The last time Chrisman advanced was 1994. So Liberty will have the edge in experience.

“It probably does (make a difference), but it is a new season so it is different every year,” Turner said.

A win over Chrisman would put Liberty in the quarterfinals at the University of Central Missouri Multipurpose Building against the winner of Blue Springs and Raytown. That game would tip Saturday, March 6, at 1 p.m.

Sports writer Bill Knust can be reached at 389-6605 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .