LIBERTY — A familiar face takes over as the head coach of the Liberty boys basketball team. Former head coach of the Liberty girl’s team, Joe Price, was announced as the head coach for the boy’s team earlier this year.

LIBERTY — It was announced on Wednesday, April 20, that Joe Price will be the new head coach for the Liberty boys basketball team.

LIBERTY — It was announced on Wednesday, March 9, Liberty head basketball coach Roger Stirtz is stepping down.

LIBERTY — A slow start led to a frustrating evening for the Liberty Blue Jays (14-1) as they fell 51-35 to Staley (15-2) on Friday, Jan. 21. The victory for Staley gave them the championship of the C.W. Stessman Invitational, their third straight year winning the title.

Editor’s Note: As part of the Courier-Tribune’s year in review coverage for 2021, we asked athletics programs in Kearney, Liberty, Liberty North and Smithville high schools to tell us who their “unsung heroes” are, those worthy of recognition but whose efforts are often behind the scenes. Th…

Editor’s Note: The Courier-Tribune’s Boys and Girls Athletes of the Year for Liberty, Liberty North, Kearney and Smithville were selected by sports writer Mac Moore based on his opinions from covering the teams and using insights provided by area coaches when available.

Editor’s Note: The Courier-Tribune’s Boys and Girls Athletes of the Year for Liberty, Liberty North, Kearney and Smithville were selected by sports writer Mac Moore based on his opinions from covering the teams and using insights provided by area coaches when available.

Athlete of the Year:

The Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference released its 2020-21 Gold Division all-conference selections and 10 local players made the list.

LIBERTY — Liberty boys basketball has won so many games by double-digits this season that the team has little experience in games decided by one possession.

The Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference released its 2020-21 Blue Division all-conference selections and 13 local players made the list.

LIBERTY — Liberty boys basketball clinched a spot in the Show-Me Showdown with dominant performances in the state sectionals and quarterfinals last week.

LIBERTY — Liberty boys basketball outlasted a resilient Truman team to win a second straight district championship.

KEARNEY — Kearney boys hoops preached the need for lockdown defense as they faced No. 1 seed Platte County in the district final on Thursday, March 4 at Platte County High School.

SMITHVILLE — Smithville boys basketball had its resurgence season ended in the Missouri Class 5 District 16 semifinals.

KEARNEY — With just five varsity players outside of quarantine, Kearney boys basketball opted to sit out the final two weeks of the season to get healthy for a postseason run.

LIBERTY — Liberty boys basketball completed a three-game sweep of their matchups with crosstown rival Liberty North this season.

SMITHVILLE — Smithville boys basketball has waited five years for a postseason victory, but it did not take very long for the Warriors to show they were ready to end that streak on Saturday, Feb. 27.

LIBERTY — Liberty North boys basketball built on its 2-game win streak to close the regular season by earning a double-digit victory in the first round of the postseason.