CONCORD - A big defensive performance in the third quarter allowed De La Salle to open up a 19-point lead against Liberty in the first round of the NCS Division I playoffs, as the Spartans finished with the 65-57 victory.
Cade Arbogast led all scorers with 21 points, including five three-pointers, but it was a 17-7 difference in the third quarter which turned a 29-21 game at halftime into a 46-28 game heading into the fourth quarter. From there, the Spartans held off a Liberty rally, especially with success from the free throw line, where Justin Pratt went 7-for-7. Pratt finished with 16 points for De La Salle.
Jack Ruff and Ben Smith each had 15 points to lead Liberty, but Smith was the only Lions' player to get on the scoreboard in the third quarter, scoring all seven of Liberty's points in the period. Kyris McInnis chipped in 10 points for the Lions, whose season comes to an end with the loss.
Thomas Gregorios added nine points for De La Salle, who plays at four seed Berkeley in Friday's quarterfinals.
