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Liberty eliminated by Craigmont in a Region 8-AA quarterfinal on Saturday.

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Kevin Odom, USA TODAY NETWORK -- Tennessee Published 9:55 p.m. CT Feb. 25, 2017 | Updated 10:13 p.m. CT Feb. 25, 2017

Liberty Tech fell to Craigmont in the Region 8-AA quarter-final Saturday.(Photo: KENNETH CUMMINGS/The Jackson Sun)Buy Photo

Liberty finished the first half on a big scoring run to take a 14-point lead into halftime and looked to be rolling on to the next round of Region 8-AA tournament play.

Unfortunately for the Crusaders the Craigmont Chiefs were not ready to go home without a fight. Craigmont fought back to a 63-61 victory to eliminate the Crusaders.

In the third quarter Craigmont outscored the Crusaders by 10 points to pull within two points going into the fourth.Branden Bailey scored nine points in the third quarter after not scoring a point in the first half.

Using an aggressive full court press, the Chiefs forced several Liberty turnovers that led to easy baskets.

We worked on breaking the press all week in practice, but we just continued to put ourselves in bad situations against it tonight, said Liberty coach Terrell Green. We kept picking up our dribble in the corner and made some bad passes by jumping in the air.

Craigmonts Bailey scored with 2:06 left in the game to give the Chiefs their first lead, 53-52, since early in the game.

Libertys DJ Bonds scored 10 seconds later later to put Liberty back in front for the last time 54-53.

Craigmont then went on a 6-0 run to take a five-point lead and held on for the victory.

Noel Blachard led the Chiefs in scoring with 18 points, and Bailey finished with 13.Mason Bates led them in rebounds with 10 and blocks with three.

Libertys Bonds and MartaviousMoore led the Crusader effort with 21 points each. Elijah Harris pulled down 12 rebounds and had two blocks.

The loss brings Libertys season to end with a record of 15-11.

Craigmont will play in the Region 8-AA semifinals on Tuesday.

If I were to sum the season up in one word it would be unpredictable. That is what we were this season, Green said. The players know I am disappointed, but they also know that I love them and know they are young and make mistakes typical of young men.

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Craigmont outlasts Liberty in Region 8-AA quarterfinal - Jackson Sun