Liberty visits Independence in Bakersfield on Friday — Girls basketball preview

SBLive Report,

Independence High School - Bakersfield -

Liberty (Patriots) travels to Independence (Falcons) on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, for a nonleague girls basketball meeting at Independence High School in Bakersfield. Tip is set for 6:30 p.m. PT at Independence High School — Bakersfield. Watch the full game page on SBLive: https://scorebooklive.com/california/girls-basketball/games/6029835-liberty-vs-independence

Game details

What: Liberty Patriots at Independence Falcons (nonleague)

When: Friday, Jan. 23, 2026 — 6:30 p.m. PT

Where: Independence High School — Bakersfield

SBLive game page: https://scorebooklive.com/california/girls-basketball/games/6029835-liberty-vs-independence

Teams and context

Home: Independence Falcons — SBLive team page: https://scorebooklive.com/california/girls-basketball/teams/156958-independence-falcons (fans: 0)

Away: Liberty Patriots — SBLive team page: https://scorebooklive.com/california/girls-basketball/teams/156970-liberty-patriots (fans: 7)

The Patriots and Falcons rekindle a meeting last decided in Bakersfield: Liberty picked up the win the last time the two met on May 26, 2021 at Independence. See the previous game: https://scorebooklive.com/california/girls-basketball/games/1084520-independence-vs-liberty

Streaming and tickets

Streaming: Both schools list NFHS Network pages where this game may be streamed if available — Independence NFHS: https://nfhsnetwork.com/schools/independence-high-school-bakersfield-ca/basketball?referrer_name=scorebooklive&utm_campaign=scorebooklive&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=scorebooklive — Liberty NFHS: https://nfhsnetwork.com/schools/liberty-high-school-bakersfield-bakersfield-ca/basketball?referrer_name=scorebooklive&utm_campaign=scorebooklive&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=scorebooklive

Tickets: No ticket links provided. Check the schools or NFHS Network pages for availability.

Why this matters

This nonleague clash gives both programs a midseason measuring stick in front of the Bakersfield crowd. Liberty brings a small but growing group of SBLive fans; Independence can flip the script at home. Follow the team pages on SBLive to increase fan counts and help push coverage and engagement: follow Independence (https://scorebooklive.com/california/girls-basketball/teams/156958-independence-falcons) and follow Liberty (https://scorebooklive.com/california/girls-basketball/teams/156970-liberty-patriots).

Fan engagement — picks and notes

Make your picks on SBLive for fun and bragging rights. Picks are for entertainment only and do not affect any win projections.

Fan and pick totals may change up until tipoff — follow the teams and make a pick for the side you want to see win.

Follow along with SBLive for updates, postgame coverage and box scores after the final buzzer.