The Freedom boys basketball team rained 3-pointers from seemingly everywhere, and before Midwest No. 16 seed Concord knew it, a game that many thought could be a 3A first-round playoff war turned into a laugher.

The West No. 1 seed Patriots (25-2) on Tuesday night at home trailed 5-4 early. Then in the span of less than three minutes, Freedom shot six 3s and drained them all, exploding to a 22-5 lead midway through the opening period and rolling from there in a 94-53 victory.

Freedom made 17 3s in all, tying a single-game program record set earlier this season. In the process, the Patriots also eclipsed the school mark for 3s in a season, 241, set by the 2012-13 team.

Weve talked about our ability to hit shots from the perimeter and the fact that we have a number of guys who can do it, Freedom coach Casey Rogers said. Tonight, I thought we did a really good job for the most part of continuing to get them off good, solid decisions.

(Concord is) athletic, dangerous. Theyre the best 10-15 team in the state coming in, I really felt like that. Im happy for us to get a win and get a chance to keep practicing. This time of year, you have to be smart on offense, defend in the halfcourt and rebound, and we did all three.

Patriots senior point guard Niguel Moore got the 3-point fest started when he assisted sophomore Fletcher Abee in the corner for a 7-5 lead, the hosts first. Moore again found Abee in the halfcourt for a 3, then located sophomore Jakari Dula for a transition trey.

Senior Alex Lineberger joined the act for a 16-5 lead, and Moores fifth straight assisted bucket went to Dula versus the zone at the top of the key. Abee took a heat-check 3 and found nothing but net, prompting a Spiders timeout.

Lineberger was true once more to end the quarter with the Pats seventh 3 for a 31-11 advantage. Freedom drained two more shots from deep in the first two and a half minutes of the next period, giving them nine in 10:30 to start the contest as the margin grew to 42-15.

The margin grew to 30 for the first time at 63-33 on Abees seventh and final 3 midway through the third period. Michael Logan also made a 3 late in the third in the record effort. Needing four in the final frame to tie the single-game FHS record, Dula, Lineberger (two) and Ben Tolbert made it happen.

The point total was Freedoms second-highest of the season and the 41-point margin their largest of the season. It was the Pats first mercy-rule win since the NCHSAA added the rule three seasons ago, as the spread reached 40 on a Kelvis Dula free throw with 3:25 left.

Abee led all scorers with 25 points, Lineberger finished with 20 and Dula chipped in with 17. Moore had a game-high nine assists, and junior Tobias Kanipe had nine points and 15 rebounds.

(Tobias) does all the little things so well, Rogers added. We preach to do the little things uncommonly well. He epitomizes that.

An eighth straight win moved Freedom to 17-0 this year at home, where theyll stay to face Midwest No. 8 Monroe Piedmont tonight at approximately 7:15 p.m. (after the girls game ends).

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Freedom waxes Concord in 1st round thanks to long-range barrage - Morganton News Herald