Roundup: Eddies need double OT to edge Paw Paw; Vikings fall to Bulldogs

Published 9:01 pm Wednesday, December 13, 2023

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EDWARDSBURG — Host Edwardsburg had to do a little extra work in order to remain atop the Wolverine Conference girls basketball standings Tuesday night.

The Eddies needed double overtime to edge Paw Paw 87-85 to improve to 2-0 in league games, while they also squared their season record at 2-2.

In other Wolverine Conference action, visiting Vicksburg took a 26-5 lead after one quarter at Niles and went on to defeat the Vikings 73-30.

 

Paw Paw at Edwardsburg

First-year Edwardsburg Coach Tracey Bloodworth was happy with her team’s effort against the Red Wolves.

“I can’t even explain how proud I am of this group of competitors,” she said. “We had a lot of kids who just would not quit and they all were cheering for one another. What an exciting victory.”

Paw Paw (2-1, 1-1 Wolverine) led at each break over the first three quarters. The Red Wolves grabbed a 24-20 lead following the opening eight minutes, while they maintained their four-point lead (38-34) at halftime.

Paw Paw would take a 51-46 advantage into the fourth quarter, but were outscored 24-19 in the final eight minutes of regulation by Edwardsburg to tie the game at 70-70 and send it into the first extra session.

“We struggled to handle their size and Paw Paw hit some big shots, but we just kept attacking them and finally strung a few baskets together to send it into OT,” Bloodworth said.

The Eddies outscored the Red Wolves 17-15 in the two overtimes to pull out the victory.

Shelby Laubach scored 18 points to lead fifth Edwardsburg players in double figures. Kourtney Zarycki scored 16 points, Kya Shier 15 points, Chloe Baker 13 points and Ella Zache 10 points.

A.J. Rickli had a game-high 27 points to lead Paw Paw.

The Eddies are back on the court Thursday night as they head to Otsego for a Wolverine Conference clash with the 2-0 Bulldogs.

 

Vicksburg at Niles

The Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1 Wolverine) never took their foot off the gas against the Vikings.

Vicksburg led 42-14 by halftime and 62-26 heading into the final quarter. The Bulldogs outscored Niles 47-25 over the final three quarters.

Tanaya Brown was the lone Niles player to reach double figures as she finished with 16 points. Maddie Zache added five points.

Makayla Allen had a game-high 23 points to lead Vicksburg.

Niles travels to Sturgis Friday night for a Wolverine Conference contest.