The No. 2 seeded Mounties led 35-25 as they entered the final quarter and nearly matched Sullivan County’s big 23-point frame behind 6 points each from Adynn Wheeland and Luke Kreger to hold off the 7-seeded Griffins for the first-round playoff win.

Wheeland led the Mounties with 21 points while Kreger had 10. Daniel Harman added 8 points, Louis Mercantino had 6, Blake Oakley and Carter Grinnell each had four points and Evan McTish chipped in with 3 points. 

The Mounties took a 10-5 lead after the first quarter behind 6 early points from Wheeland, and the junior followed it up with 5 points in a 9-8 second quartet that gave Liberty a 19-13 lead at the break. 

Wheeland, Harman and Mercantino each scored 4 points as the Mounties outscored Sullivan 16-12 in the third for a 35-25 lead going into the final frame, where Kreger and Wheeland each scored 6 points to help the Mounties overcome a 23-point quarter by the Griffins. 

Wheeland added 5 rebounds and 4 steals while Kreger had 7 rebounds and 6 assists, Harman had 5 rebounds and 2 blocked shots, Mercantino had 4 assists and McTish had 5 boards. 

Liberty, now 12-10 overall on the season, will advance to the Class A semifinals and face No. 6 seed Galeton .. upset winners over No. 3 seed Cowanesque Valley.