Freedom’s basketball team has always turned up their play at Cedar Beach and the Pates kept that trend going over the weekend with their performance at the Bash at the Beach Tournament.

Freedom went 4-2 at the event and reached the winner’s bracket final before losing to Muhlenberg Township 52-49 and then falling to eventual champion, Allentown Central Catholic, 33-27 in the elimination bracket final.

Reaching the final stages of the four-day tournament is what Freedom is accustomed to, but head coach Joe Stellato was happy to see his group take a step forward in the tourney.

“I was very pleased with the way we played this weekend,” said Stellato. “We had both Muhlenberg and Central beat and because we did not execute in the final minutes of those games it cost us a chance to play in the finals. That was disappointing, but looking back at the weekend, I was very pleased.”

Freedom picked up wins over Central York, Berks Catholic, Central Dauphin and an unofficial win over Warren Hills after both teams opponents on opening night forfeited for COVID reasons.

Being able to compete and get wins with a short-handed roster was even better for Stellato.

“We only had eight players with a few major contributors on vacation,” he said. “The defensive end of the court looked great, we just did not execute on the offensive side. It is still early and this is normal for summer basketball. But the kids battled and played through the heat. We are looking forward to finishing up the summer league strong and look forward to the Allentown Throw down.”

Freedom’s Nick Ellis and Josh Smith were named to the all-tournament team as well.

Liberty went 1-2 over the weekend, knocking off Parkland 62-40, but suffering defeats to East Penn Conference foes Central Catholic and Emmaus.