In this era of sport specialization, it is refreshing to see athletes play multiple sports.
Game photos click here.
In this era of sport specialization, it is refreshing to see athletes play multiple sports.
Three of Chardon’s multiple sport athletes — seniors Trey Liebhardt, Ethan Faber and Noah Gerlica — led the Chardon boy’s basketball team to a victory Feb. 3 over Willoughby South, 62-48.
Liebhardt, fresh off committing to play football at Central Michigan University next fall, led the Hilltoppers with 21 points, while fellow seniors Ethan Faber and Noah Gerlica chipped in 11 each.
“It was a hard-fought game. They’re a good team,” Liebhardt said. “When they get hot, they get going. But, you know, we just played really good basketball, and I think they just couldn’t keep up with us for four quarters. That’s credit to our conditioning.”
Added Faber, “We just played really hard defensively.”
For the Hilltoppers, speed and endurance is the name of the game, and it starts with Liebhardt and Faber.
This is not surprising, since Liebhardt is a two-time state champion football player who played defensive back and wide receiver, and Faber was a centerfielder for the Hilltoppers 2022 state championship baseball team.
“Our offense has to be built on driving (to the hoop),” Faber said.
The speed and agility Liebhardt and Faber possess from training in multiple sports for many years allows them to make quick penetrating drives to the hoop and keep their opponents off balance.
In addition, as the defense tries to keep them from getting to the rim, they are excellent at kicking the ball out to teammates for open 3-point shot attempts.
“We’ve got three great shooters in Trey, Noah and Sammy,” Faber said. “We just drive, kick (the basketball outside), and it works out fine.
“The thing about our team (is) all five of our starters can go and score, and tonight Trey put up big numbers and he helped us out to get the win.”
In leading the Hilltoppers to victory, Liebhardt, like the rest of his team, displayed excellent shooting from the field and at the free throw line. Seven 3-pointers were made, including three by Liebhardt, and were nine of 10 from the line.
Liebhardt led the way in the first quarter as he drained two, three-pointers.
After the Rebels took a 13-11 lead to start the game, Chardon outscored the Rebels 17-15 in the second quarter.
With a 30-28 lead at halftime, coach Murawski told his team to keep using its speed and quickness to gain an advantage. He also told his Toppers to stay focused on rebounding and to play their game.
“We played hard, and we played well,” Murawski said. “We just needed to keep pushing the pace, keep rebounding, keep executing on offense.”
After halftime, both teams started slowly as Chardon went up, 35-32, midway through the third quarter.
However, the Hilltoppers kicked up the intensity in the final four minutes of the third quarter to go on a 14-4 run. Liebhardt scored 10 and Gerlica scored seven in the third to take a 49-36 lead into the fourth.
In addition to excellent offensive play, coach Murawski also attributed the team’s success to its great defensive effort.
“Our defensive effort really got after it, and I am proud of them,” Murawski said. “Our defensive effort was there, and that translated to offensive success for us.”
Also contributing to Chardon’s scoring were Sammy Sulka and Andrew Bruce with eight points each and Dylan Fletcher with three points.
With the win, their sixth in a row, the Hilltoppers moved to 12-4 on the season, and would go for seven in a row Feb. 7 against Eastlake North.
