Cramsey helps Eagles kick into gear in fourth quarter to outlast Indians in Adams County rivalry

PAYSON, Ill. — Vince Cramsey is one of the premier guards in West-Central Illinois, and he’s just a sophomore.

Cramsey punctuated the Liberty boys basketball team’s 49-42 victory Friday night over Payson Seymour, scoring seven of his game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter to propel the Eagles to their fourth straight victory in front of an enthusiastic crowd of about 825.

Ironically, Cramsey, who scored a season-high 35 points last month in a victory over Mendon Unity, says defense is his principal interest.

“I’m always trying to steal the ball and help us play with a lot of energy,” the 6-foot-1 shooting guard said. 

Cramsey’s moves with the ball often belie his age. On several occasions against the Payson defense, Cramsey zigged while his defender zagged. He’s especially dangerous on drives to the hoop in and around the key.  

“I’m never satisfied,” Cramsey said. “I always want to be better.”

Liberty coach Dan Sparrow, whose club is now 16-9, smiles at the mention of Cramsey’s name.

“He’s hard to defend,” Sparrow said.

And Cramsey is not alone in that respect on a Liberty team that starts four sophomores. Cramsey, senior Jack Sparrow and sophomore Reed Sparrow are all averaging more than 14 points per game for a balanced Eagles offense.

“I was really proud of our kids, going up against a senior-laden team like Payson,” Dan Sparrow said. “We could have folded, but didn’t. There have been times this season, though, when we didn’t respond like we did tonight.”

Liberty, which has won six of its last 10 meetings against Payson, broke from a 35-35 tie after three quarters to score the first eight points of the final period, thanks in part to plenty of patience on offense and a vice-like defense. Payson (14-11) did not score for the first 7 minutes, 16 seconds of the fourth quarter. 

For more than half of the final period, Liberty was content to hold the ball on each possession until Payson’s defense was willing to attack. 

“That’s why we’re going to have a 35-second shot clock (for the 2026-27 season),” Payson coach Tyler Duschinsky said of Liberty’s slowdown tactics and the upcoming IHSA rule change. “(The fourth quarter) was a good reminder, though, that there are still things we need to work on defensively.”

Nolan Sparks (13), Brody Dieker (12) and Lane Barker (10) all scored in double figures for Payson, which had won seven of its previous eight games. The Indians’ leading scorer, Blake Schwartz, who entered the night averaging 18.3 points per contest and had 11 earlier games with 20 or more points, was limited to seven.

“We played hard, the effort was there and I like where we’re at right now,” Duschinsky said. “The boys continue to work hard and buy in to what we’re trying to do. It’s my job to (pull everything together) for the postseason.”

Jack Sparrow added 11 points and a game-best 10 rebounds for Liberty.

“We’re starting to play good basketball at a good time,” said Dan Sparrow, whose team will face back-to-back-to-back tests against Monroe City (Saturday), West Hancock (Tuesday) and Quincy Notre Dame (Feb. 14). “Those next three games won’t be a fun stretch, but they are all games that should help us get ready for the postseason.”