BOLIVAR, MO -- The Irish 2020/2021 campaign didn't end the way any Irish fan wanted. Last year's double-overtime loss wasn't a game that anyone on the team had forgotten. The team went back to work and brought in a new coach in Jack Simpson in the offseason. The team had the opportunity to avenge last years post-season matchup at home in February but lost a nail-biter when Kyle Polk knocked down an 18-footer to snatch victory on the home court. Fast forward to last night and the matchup that most people wanted to see came to fruition; this time in the MSHSAA Class 5 quarterfinal. 

This game was exactly what everyone thought it would be. Every posesssion from the tip-off to the buzzer was defended like it was the final minutes of the 4th quarter. Both Kyle Pock and Zach Howell would rack up 3 fouls each prior to halftime and it became a chess match to keep the players in the game. The Irish defense shone bright in the second half. Liam O'Reilly switched to guarding Kyle Pock in the second half and Evan Mayse came off the bench to provide defense while keeping Zach Howell from picking up his 5th foul. The Liberators stayed in the game until the final minutes knocking down key shots to stay in it. But the Irish kept finding ways to answer and made critical free-throws down the stretch. 

The Irish were led in scoring by Zach Howell with 18 and followed closely by Liam O'Reilly who stepped up big with 17 and Ty Lyon chipped in 12. Major Riley was the leading rebounder with 8 and Quinn Roubal continued to make key 3's and was a perfect 2 of 2 from behind the arc. 

The Irish will advance to the MSHSAA Class 5 semifinal on March 18th where they will face Jeff City Helias. This will be the 7th game in JQH for the Irish this season.