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Jared Soares | The Roanoke Times

Liberty players Carlton Payne (30) and Ryan Nichols (40) defend a shot from Lord Botetourt's Hunter Foley during the fourth quarter.

When Lord Botetourt knocked off Liberty by 20 points in Daleville earlier this season, Minutemen coach Jeff Monroe knew his team could do better.

It was time for revenge Tuesday night, as Liberty captured its first-ever Northside Invitational Tournament with a 61-57 victory over the Cavaliers.

The Minutemen (8-2) were led by the tournament's most outstanding player, Chris Harmon, who scored 14 points, as well as all-tournament team member Carlton Payne (15 points) and Anthony Reynolds (13).

"They played a great game," Botetourt coach Jon Cook said. "Harmon played the best he's ever played against us."

Although Harmon was just 6-of-19 from the floor, the Liberty guard continuously pushed the action, taking the ball to the hoop against the Cavs' big men and fighting for virtually every rebound.

"When they made their runs tonight, we combatted them better than the last time we played them," Monroe said.

Cook said he thought the game turned late in the third period when Liberty's Justin Martin hit back-to-back 3-pointers in a 30-second span that drew the Minutemen even at 37 after they trailed by six points.

The game was tied four times in the fourth quarter, but Liberty moved ahead to stay when Reynolds scored with 2:25 left. Reynolds had eight fourth-quarter points, including a long-distance 3-pointer with 1:29 left that pushed Liberty's lead to 54-50.

Playing just seven players for most of the three-game tournament, Botetourt (8-4) tired in the final minutes of Tuesday's game.

Hunter Foley pumped in a game-high 19 for LB, including a 3-pointer with seven seconds left. Matt Moats and Rick Adelman added 15 and 10, respectively. Foley and Adelman were named to the all-tournament team.

LIBERTY (8-2)

Gilchrist 0 0-0 0, Payne 6 1-4 15, C. Harmon 6 0-0 14, Nichols 2 4-8 8, Reynolds 5 1-2 13, Blake 0 0-0 0, Hayden 0 0-0 0, Sparrow 1 0-0 2, Martin 3 0-0 9, Stith 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 6-14 61.

LORD BOTETOURT (8-4)

Mathias 1 0-0 3, Adelman 4 2-6 10, Hunsberger 1 0-0 2, Foley 7 4-4 19, Moats 6 1-2 15, Arnold 1 5-5 8, Bane 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 12-17 57.

Liberty 14 12 11 24 -- 61

Lord Botetourt 11 12 16 18 --- 57

3-point goals --Liberty 9 (Martin 3, Harmon 2, Payne 2, Reynolds 2), Lord Botetourt 5 (Moats 2, Mathias, Foley, Arnold). Fouls -- Liberty 10, Lord Botetourt 13. Technical fouls -- none. Fouled out -- none.

Northside 63, Franklin County 54

Northside took third place by beating Group AAA opponent Franklin County.

The Vikings (7-3), who have featured six different leading scorers in their 10 games this year, were led Tuesday by Neil Brown's 15 points. Brown did not play Monday when the Vikings lost to Botetourt in the semifinals.

Franklin County led 12-4 out of the gate, but the Vikings scored the game's next 16 points.

Northside passed the mantle to different individuals each quarter, with Andrew Pound scoring eight in the first period, Brown notching eight in the third and Ryan Palmieri pouring in five in the second quarter and nine in the final period.

Neither Pound, Brown nor Palmieri started.

"Our bench deserves a lot of credit," Northside coach Bill Pope said.

The Vikings did not score in the game's first three minutes or the second half's first five minutes, but hit seven 3-pointers during the game.

"We gave them too many easy shots and their intensity was a whole lot better than ours," Eagles coach Doug Conklin said.

The Eagles had only lost once this season prior to this week, but now have dropped consecutive games to Group AA schools. Liberty edged Franklin County 70-69 in Monday's first semifinal.

The Eagles were led by Chris Tyree, who scored 19 points and made the all-tournament team.

FRANKLIN COUNTY (8-3)

Gill 1 0-2 2, Royal 4 0-0 10, Reynolds 6 0-1 12, Edwards 1 2-4 4, Tyree 5 9-13 19, O'Neal 1 1-3 4, Gilbert 1 0-0 3, Dunn 0 0-0 0, Spencer 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 12-23 54.

NORTHSIDE (7-3)

Burroughs 3 1-1 7, Thornburg 2 3-3 8, Smith 0 0-0 0, Gilliard 2 0-0 4, Richie 3 1-1 7, Palmieri 5 2-6 14, Mitchell 0 0-0 0, Phelps 0 0-0 4, Pound 3 0-0 8, Brown 6 1-1 15. Totals 24 8-12 63.

Franklin County 12 6 17 19 -- 54

Northside 15 12 11 25 -- 63

3-point goals -- Franklin County 4 (Royal 2, O'Neal, Gilbert). Northside 7 (Pound 2, Brown 2, Palmieri 2, Thornburg). Fouls -- Franklin County 17, Northside 19. Technical fouls -- none. Fouled out -- Royal, Smith.

William Byrd 46, Martinsville 41

William Byrd was declared the consolation bracket champion, besting Martinsville and winning its second game in as many days.

Terrier Jake Mankin, a member of the all-tournament team, paced his team with 13 points, 11 of them in the second half when Byrd more than doubled its first-half output of 15 points.

For the second consecutive day, Bradley Mattox effectively controlled the Byrd offense in the fourth quarter with his dribble and made all four of his free throws down the stretch.

Ronwyn Prichett led the Bulldogs with 16 points, while Jarez Turner added 10.

WILLIAM BYRD (3-7)

Mattox 2 4-4 8, Palmer 1 3-6 5, Brugh 4 0-0 8,, Zimmerman 0 2-2 2, Mankin 5 2-2 13, Vest 1 1-2 3, Miller 2 0-0 5, Conner 0 0-0 0, Sloan 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 12-16 46.

MARTINSVILLE (5-5)

Tyler 2 1-2 5, Jones 1 0-0 2, Green 1 2-2 5, Turner 4 2-2 10, Prichett 6 4-6 16, Scott 0 0-0 0, Scales 1 0-0 2, Belcher 0 1-2 1, Tarpley 0 0-0 0, Martin 0 0-0 0, Arrington 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 10-14 41.

William Byrd 8 7 18 13-- 46

Martinsville 10 10 12 9 -- 41

3-point goals -- William Byrd 2 (Mankin, Miller). Martinsville 1 (Green). Fouls -- William Byrd 14, Martinsville 19. Technical fouls -- none. Fouled out -- Jones.

Blacksburg 51, Staunton River 39

Blacksburg parlayed a 27-8 run midway through the contest to erase an early deficit and put away Staunton River.

Post player Reece Whitsett led three Bruin double-figure scorers with 16 points, hitting 6-of-8 shots from the field.

Wesley Gates led Staunton River with 17 points, including 12 of his team's 19 after intermission. Gates' third-quarter dunk was his team's only field goal in that period.

BLACKSBURG (4-6)

Sowers 0 0-0 0, Brown 0 0-0 0, Whitsett 6 4-6 16, Travis 3 2-3 8, Carr 1 0-0 2, Cooper 4 1-2 10, Walker 0 0-0 0, Henderson 0 1-2 1, Jones 3 4-6, 10, Jackson 2 0-1 4, Price 0 0-1 0. Totals 19 12-21 51.

STAUNTON RIVER (1-8)

Gates 6 5-6 17, A. Dillon 1 1-2 3, B. Dillon 2 0-0 4, Eggleston 1 0-0 2, Cunningham 1 1-2 4, See 1 0-0 2, Adkins 0 0-0 0, Nichols 0 0-0 0, Coles 2 3-3 7. Totals 14 10-13 39..

Blacksburg 9 20 10 12 -- 51

Staunton River 14 6 4 15 -- 39

3-point goals -- Blacksburg 1 (Cooper), Staunton River 1 (Cunningham). Fouls -- Blacksburg 11, Staunton River 21. Technical fouls -- none. Fouled out -- A. Dillon.