After trading counterpunches for three quarters, neither Liberty or Blue Valley North was willing to throw the knockout blow.

Or attempt one at all.

After entering the fourth quarter tied at 46-46, both the No. 6 Blue Jays and No. 7 Mustangs went scoreless for a 3:29 of the final stanza.

Eventually Liberty's Brock Matson ended the arid span, with a conventional three-point play on a drive and foul with 4:31 left.

A minute later, Grant Stubbs tossed in a three for a 52-46 lead at 3:32. North's Luke Adams countered with a three, but Stubbs stepped up again with two free throws at 1:42.

From there, Robert Rawie and Jalen Lewis hit free throws to wrap the game.

For the final quarter, Liberty held the Mustangs to just one bucket.

"It was an outstanding defensive ending for us, and a great win against a tough team," Liberty head coach Roger Stirtz said. "We had a lot of guys step up making big plays on both offense and defense."

Liberty improves to 10-2 with the win.

Liberty opened up a 38-30 lead early in the third after two Logan Steenstra buckets. But an Adams stepback jumper, and a three at the top of the key brought the Mustangs to 38-35 with 3:19 left in the period.

Matson hit a baseline three for Liberty, but Jessie Hickson hit two free throws, and consecutive pullups - one a three - for a 42-41 lead with 1:55 in the quarter.

Both teams traded baskets with a Jalen Lewis pullup 18-footer and Matson three offsetting post buckets by Nick Orr and Miles Emery for a 46-46 tie at the end of three. Emery led North with 16 points.

Steenstra paced Liberty with 18. Matson added 16, with Lewis chipping in 13 after a scoreless first quarter.