Top-seeded Youngstown Ursuline on deck for Warriors in district semifinal

Passions were flaring as the Edgewood Warriors staked claim to a D-II Sectional Final win at home over West Geauga on Friday, 70-62.

Defenses were practically painted on thru ought the contest, as tempers briefly flared out of frustration and amplified by exhaustion. But it was Edgewood able to overcome and expand several narrow leads into double digits.

“We wanted to run the ball. We wanted to fast break. But we did a lot of bad things out there tonight. The good things (were able to) oversee it. We obviously did enough to win the game, but we gotta clean up a lot of turnovers. We have to do some things better – especially shoot foul shots.

John Bowler, Edgewood Boys Basketball Coach

The Badgers trailing by eight at the half, surged to get within three points in the third quarter. That’s when the newest member of Edgewood’s 1,000-point club, Zack Vencill, hit a clutch free-throw amid a 13-point explosion by junior Logan Kray (19 total points).

That scenario would play out several more times before Edgewood would jump ahead for good in the final quarter. That’s when junior Jacob Ernst would take over. Returning from early foul trouble, Ernst knocked down 10 of his 17 points in the frame.

“The kids showed a lot of character when they did that. Our defense really stepped up tonight. The kids are working hard and it showed. I give West G a lot of credit. They kept stroking three’s and they didn’t make it easy on us.

Bowler, on the budding rivalry

Vencill led all scorers with 25 points. Andrew Prexta led West Geauga with 19 points.

Edgewood advances to the District Tournament at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin on Wednesday, March 1, at 7 pm.