THREE RIVERS — The Edwardsburg boys basketball team got revenge and snapped a district title drought Friday in its game against Sturgis.

Behind a great defensive effort, the Eddies beat the Trojans, 46-35, to claim their first district title since 1988.

Edwardsburg also avenged a 54-39 loss at the hands to Sturgis in an opening round district game last year.

The 17-6 Eddies advance to play Benton Harbor in a Class B regional semifinal game at approximately 8 p.m. on Monday at Coloma High School.

“I think it shows how hard the kids have worked,” said Edwardsburg coach Steve Wright about winning the district title. “I’m happy for the community of Edwardsburg and I’m happy for the players.”

The Eddies jumped out to a 10-0 lead and trailed only once in the game at 28-27 with 7:17 left in the game.

Edwardsburg won despite shooting only 31 percent (13-of-42) from the field and 54 percent (14-of-26) from the free-throw line.

The Eddies made up for their offensive woes by clamping down on defense. Edwardsburg harrassed Sturgis into 16 turnovers, including 11 in the first half, and held the Trojans to 35 percent (11-of-31) shooting.

Edwardsburg also contained Sturgis 6-foot-6 forward Chance Stewart. Stewart, who scored 32 points in the Trojans district win last year over the Eddies, had to work hard for his 21 points on Friday.

“We said (to our team) that’s where this game was going to be won tonight,” Wright said about his team’s defensive play. “They’re so physical we were going to have to play harder than we ever have played before and try to control (Chance) Stewart as much as we can. He’s such a load. It was a team effort on the defensive end. We just battled and battled and got it done.”

Edwardsburg saved its best offensive execution for the fourth quarter. An 11-2 run gave the Eddies a 40-31 lead with 1:57 left in the game. Isaac Vite and Dylan Hulett made 3-pointers during that stretch for Edwardsburg.

Dante Razzano, who was plagued with foul trouble, still was able to score 16 points, grab three rebounds and get three steals. Vite and Hulett each added 10 points. Jackson Gaideski pulled down 10 rebounds to go with his five points.

 

Edwardsburg 46, Sturgis 35

STURGIS 35

Chance Stewart 21, Tristen Stewart 0, Jack Scheske 11, Andrew Airgood 2, Ryan Shuller 1, Matt Polzin 0, Lonnie Wright 0. TOTALS 11 12-18 35

EDWARDSBURG 46

Dante Razzano 16, Jackson Gaideski 5, Isaac Vite 10, Dylan Hulett 10, Grant Szalewski 4, Derek Pierce 1, Dalton Raymond 0, Joe Queener 0, Jordan Douglas 0, Adam Kozinski 0, Jon Albrecht 0, Ben Robertson 0. TOTALS: 13 14-26 46

 

Sturgis                        3          14       25       35

Edwardsburg            13       24       27       46

3-point baskets: Sturgis 1 (Scheske), Edwardsburg 6 (Razzano 2, Vite 2, Hulett 2). Total fouls (fouled out): Sturgis 19 (none), Edwardsburg 16 (none). Shooting: Sturgis 11-of-31 for 35-percent, Edwardsburg 13-of-42 for 31-percent. Rebounding: Sturgis 30 (Stewart 13), Edwardsburg 23 (Gaideski 10). Turnovers: Sturgis 16, Edwardsburg 10. Varsity records: Sturgis 15-7, Edwardsburg 17-6