Ben Price poured in a game-high 21 points as Liberty Christian raced past Taholah 66-35 in the first round of the Class 1B boys state tournament Wednesday.

Price had four points and Jeremy Siefken sank a pair of three-pointers to spark a 21-point Liberty Christian run to start the second quarter and put the game out of reach.

The Patriots, who improved to 18-8, were hot from the field in the first half, converting 53.6 percent (15 of 28) of their shots, including six of 10 treys.

Drew Hegarty added 12 points for the winners, and Siefken finished with 11.

Liberty Christian dominated the boards 43-25. Will Higgins grabbed nine for LC, Hegarty had eight and Siefken seven.

William Grover led Taholah (13-6) with 13 points, and Xavier Lewis added 10.

Taholah -- Vitalis 0-0 0-0 0, Potter 2-5 0-0 4, Ellingson 0-3 0-0 0, Willis 0-0 0-0 0, Peterson 0-1 0-0 0, Buck 0-1 0-0 0, Waugh 0-0 0-0 0, Rivera 0-2 0-0 0, Underwood 1-5 0-0 2, Grover 5-11 2-6 13, Lewis 4-12 1-4 10, BringsYellow 2-6 2-3 6. Totals 14-46 5-13 35.
Liberty Christian -- Croskrey 0-0 0-0 0, Nash 0-1 0-0 0, Morgan 1-6 0-0 3, Higgins 3-6 0-2 6, Hegarty 5-8 0-0 12, Siefken 4-8 0-0 11, Wilson 1-4 0-0 2, Howard 1-3 2-2 4, Price 9-13 3-5 21, Thornhill 0-2 0-0 0, Bodeau 2-7 3-4 7, Lane 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-58 8-13 66.
Taholah	12	2	8	13	--	35
Liberty Christian	14	25	15	12	--	66
3-point goals--T 2-11 (Grover 1-3, Lewis 1-4, Buck 0-1, Underwood 0-3), LC 6-13 (Siefken 3-4, Hegarty 2-4, Morgan 1-3, Wilson 0-1, Thornhill 0-1). Rebounds--T 25 (Lewis 7, Ellingson 7), LC 43 (Higgins 9, Hegarty 8, Siefken 7). Assists --T 4 (Grover 3), LC 11 (Morgan 2, Higgins 2, Siefken 2, Hegarty 2, Price 2). Steals--T 6 (Grover 2, Lewis 2), LC 10 (Morgan 2, Higgins 2, Siefken 2, Wilson 2). Blocked shots--T 0, LC 1. Fouled out--None. Total fouls--T 9, LC 12. Technical fouls--None. Turnovers--T 15, LC 12.