SMITHVILLE — Every athlete is motivated by something different. It is anywhere from a team championship to hall of fame accolades or school records. In the case of Smithville’s Dawson Strickland, he is motivated by steak.

Players from Liberty, Liberty North, Smithville and Kearney were all honored for their on-court success this season. From all-conference awards to all-district nominations, there were plenty of great performances from the area this season.

SMITHVILLE — While walking off of the floor on Monday, March 6, it was the final time playing basketball for Smithville senior Ryker Edwards. It was the end of an illustrious career for the standout hooper that has scored more than 1,000 points in his career and helped the Warriors reach new…

LIBERTY — The Blue Jays wrapped up their first season under head coach Joe Price March 1. Liberty lost to Park Hill 71-61 in the first round of the Class 6 District 8 Tournament.

PLATTE CITY — The odds were stacked against the Warriors from the moment they stepped on the court in the Class 5 District 8 Championship game on Monday, March 6. No matter the outcome, they were already winners. The team broke many records this year and will go down in history as one of the…

KANSAS CITY — Two local standout basketball players made their marks in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Conference Tournament. Liberty High School graduate from 2020 and current University of Central Missouri player Olivia Nelson and 2022 Liberty grad and Northwest Missouri State’s…

PLATTE CITY — Smithville topped Kearney 44-42 in the Class 5 District 8 Semifinals on Friday, March 3.

PLATTE CITY — Smithville and Kearney will meet for the fifth time on Friday, March 3. The Warriors and Bulldogs will square off in the Class 5 District 8 Basketball Semifinals hosted by Platte County. Tip-off time is slated for 7 p.m. as the winner fights for a district title and the loser’s…

GLADSTONE — Winning a title was always going to be an uphill climb for Liberty North (13-12). The Eagles’ season came to a close as they were defeated 71-44 by Oak Park (25-1) in the first round of the Class 6 District 8 Tournament on Wednesday, March 1.

Smithville and Kearney’s postseason dreams begins on Wednesday, March 1. The Warriors are the No. 2 seed and Kearney represents the sixth seed in the Class 5 District 8 Tournament.

Arguably the toughest district bracket in the state will feature Liberty and Liberty North this year. The Class 6 District 8 Tournament begins Wednesday, March 1.

SMITHVILLE — The gymnasium in Smithville has terrorized opponents for years. It is often looked at as a fortress where opponents' dreams to win are often vanquished.

SMITHVILLE — The Warriors used an epic come-from-behind win to defeat Grandview (15-6) on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Smithville (17-7) won 60-51 thanks to a fantastic fourth-quarter performance.

LIBERTY — William Jewell hosted one of the top teams in the country on Saturday, Feb. 11. The Cardinals faced No. 7 Indianapolis in a key Great Lakes Valley Conference matchup. Jewell gave the Greyhounds all they could, but a late run by the visitors allowed them to escape the Mabee Center w…

SMITHVILLE — The Warriors have been off to a flying start to the new year. Since early January, Smithville (16-6) has won nine straight games including their latest test against Raytown South (5-12) on Tuesday, Feb. 7. Smithville defeated the Cardinals 49-45.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS — Kearney basketball is back to their winning ways after defeating Excelsior Springs away from home on Tuesday, Feb. 7. Kearney won over the Tigers by a final score of 58-41.

LIBERTY — Emotions on the court and off filled Liberty North’s Fieldhouse on Friday, Feb. 3. The Eagles hosted crosstown rival Liberty in a low-scoring defensive affair. The Blue Jays won 40-31 in front of a standing-room-only crowd.

KEARNEY — When it rains, it pours. The Bulldogs (5-14) lost their seventh straight game as they were beaten by Raytown South on Thursday, Feb. 2. The Cardinals topped Kearney 62-45 in a frustrating loss for the Bulldogs.

LIBERTY — Rocky Balboa and William Jewell’s Mason Alexander may not have a ton in common. One is a fictional boxer from Philadelphia and the other is a real basketball player from McPherson, Kansas.

LIBERTY — The Blue Jays used a massive fourth-quarter run over William Chrisman to snag third place in their home tournament, the C.W. Stessman Invitational. Liberty won 53-44 on Friday, Jan. 20.