Game Audio Below:
On Tuesday, February 17th, 2026; The Mtn-View Liberty Eagles Basketball Team hosted the Salem Tigers for senior night. All four seniors: Brayden Mays, Titus Jester, Draydon Wells & Parker Tune started in the ballgame
Jump ball and Senior Brayden Mays gets the first bucket of the The Liberty Eagles. This resembles his last single bucket for the Eagles. Paxton Hunter with the next, Eagles take a 4-2 lead.
Brayden Gaspch, the main Salem Tiger point guard, ties the ballgame up but is fouled as he traveled. Ball will go back to The Liberty. They try for a shot.
Another turnover and Gaspch scores the first three of the ballgame and take the lead. Ball lost again on the rebound and Gapsch shoots another three.
A three by Alex Tune falls short and an easy rebound for The Tigers. Finally a foul on Gapsch after trying for the steal as Carter Ellett goes to the line. Makes 1-2.
A loose basketball and Liberty steals the ball back. Shot falls short by Parker Tune but shoots the play out at the free throw line.
Steal and Senior, Gavin Sapaugh for Salem scores. Rebound and Hunter for Liberty fouls and goes back to the line again. Liberty trails Salem, 12-8 with under three minutes to go.
Spaugh passes to Gaspch the shot is nearly blocked but goes up and in again. But a foul as Paxton Hunter finally gets 2-2 at the line.
Gaspch with another three as Liberty turns the ball over the ball again. Rebound by Paxton Hunter for two. Sapaugh on the rebound and scores on the pick and roll with 4.1 seconds to go in half. Sapaugh goes to the line for the three point play.
At the end of one The Salem Tigers lead the Liberty Eagles 24-16
2nd Quarter: Liberty takes the ball back but loses it on the rebound. Salem takes it back as Gaspch cashes in on another three. Salem keeps the ball and Sapaugh scores on another baseline shot.
Liberty however comes back midway through as Parker Tune shoots two threes as well as at least three trips to the line, coming back by seven points.
This to also mention; Liberty’s main struggle in the first part of the half was tempo. Many shots between the First half and the Early second half would not fall. Liberty was able to make the most of the last two possessions and trail 30-37 as The Salem Tigers led at the half.
3rd Quarter: Liberty comes back to tie as Paxton Hunter fouls early and goes to the line. This follows two three pointers by Parker Tune as both teams tie at 44.
However; Gaspch continues to be hard to control however as he scores on all of Salem’s rebounds with the help of Sapaugh scoring on the other end.
The entire third quarter is a brawl on defense as Liberty is getting some easier shots in on the paint, but still being overpowered
Liberty continues to lead, 56-51 at the end of three.
4th Quarter: The two teams continue their brawl as Liberty goes back into having a tough time shooting the three. Gaspch puts Salem on the record for at least five threes.
Draydon Wells however continues on a flow on rebound scoring on the night as Liberty nealy comes back by three also with the help of two more threes by Parker Tune.
Alex Tune also with a three, now his fourth after the teams are momentarily tied up and 63 but this changes
The lead continues to rise as Draydon Wells scores four in a row as Salem’s foul troubles are nearly about to cost them the game with under a minute to go.
The momentum continues to build as Brayden Gaspch makes the seventh three as Liberty has the lead, 73-71 with 17.9 seconds to go.
A foul call sends Alex Tune to shoot two. He makes both. But game is cut back to two as Brayden Gapsch scores two more at the line on the next foul for Liberty. 76-74 with 2.4 seconds to go,
Paxton Hunter secures the win for Liberty with one free throw, 77-74 as Liberty fights back from being down in the first half.
Scoring:
Parker Tune-23
Paxton Hunter- 19/ 11 in the second half
Alex Tune- 11
Carter Ellett-6
Draydon Wells- 12/ 4 in the first and 8 in the second
Balyne Aletermatt- 4
Brayden Mays- 2
Liberty will face The Thayer Bobcats in their final SCA matchup before districts on Thursday, February 19th at Thayer. Game will air around 7:30 on The Fox 96.9
