St. Edward Basketball Holds On for Big Win

Just hours after the season tipped off in December, the St. Edward High School basketball team lost to Toledo St. John, regarded as one of the top teams in the state. Later that month, at a tournament in San Diego, the Eagles lost to Bishop O’Dowd, a team then ranked among the top 25 nationally. And on Thursday night, they lost on the road to undefeated Garfield Heights.

Three big games for the Eagles and three frustrating losses. When coach Eric Flannery designed the schedule last year, he wanted to challenge his team with as many games as possible against top opponents. But would the Eagles ever break through and beat one?

Yes.

On Saturday night, at last, the Eagles jumped out to a big lead over Columbus Northland, then held on during a furious fourth quarter to beat the Vikings, 84-81, and hand them their first loss this season. After the game, many of the Eagles were as relieved after a draining couple of days on the court as they were happy just to get the win. 

“Coach wanted us to get over the hump,” senior guard Delbert Love said. “He wanted us to finally beat one of the best teams in the state.”

For a while, it looked like the Eagles (13-5) would roll over the Vikings (15-1) on their way to a big win. They scored 30 points in the second quarter -- 53 during the first half -- and led by as many as 12 points with less than two minutes remaining until halftime. Senior guard Kyle Pisco was hitting just about everything from beyond the arc, and Love and sophomore guard Elijah Brown were hitting from every spot on the court.

But the Vikings chipped away. And where the Eagles balanced their offensive efforts -- Love, Brown and Pisco scored 20, 17 and 16, respectively, junior guard Myles Hamilton finished with 10, and junior guards Mike Newton and James Crawford each chipped in seven -- the Vikings were led by just one player. Trey Burke, a senior guard who has committed to Michigan, poured in 35 points.

“The whole time,” Hamilton said, “I was just thinking, ‘Stop Trey.’”

No one ever really did. Burke scored 13 in the second quarter when the Vikings closed the gap and 14 more in the fourth, but the Eagles more than matched him.

Hamilton turned in two big plays during the last minute to make sure the Eagles finally won a big game. With 16.6 seconds remaining the Eagles down by one, Hamilton dribbled to the right side of the key. The play, which Flannery said he normally installs early during the state tournament but opted this season to turn to it a little earlier, puts the ball in the hands one of the better Eagles and allows him to decide whether to drive or kick out. Because of a miscommunication, two Vikings defenders shifted in opposite directions and the lane opened.

Hamilton drove. Two points. Eagles lead.

The Vikings inbounded the ball with about six seconds remaining and made one pass -- which Hamilton intercepted, then held on to for a second before he handed off to Love. Foul. Two free throws. Game. Win.

“We needed this for our own psyche,” Flannery said, “to win a close game like this.”

Only two games remain now in the regular season -- Friday against St. Ignatius and Feb. 19 at Mentor -- and both will provide challenges. But no matter the final scores, St. Edward could wind up playing Mentor or St. Ignatius again in the tournament. Or Garfield Heights. Or Toledo St. John. Or Northland.

“When we were going through the line after the game,” Hamilton said, “we were telling them we would probably see each other again.”

AROUND ST. EDWARD

In other Eagles news, the wrestling team, ranked No. 4 nationally in the latest Amateur Wrestling News poll beat No. 8 Wyoming Seminary and Kiski at home on Saturday at the St. Edward Super Quad, but lost to No. 2 Blair Academy. The team will compete next at sectionals Feb. 18 and 19. ... The Eagles hockey team tied Lake Catholic on Friday night, 2-2, to move to 19-12-3 overall and 7-3-1 in GCHSHL Red Division play. Results from their division game Saturday night against University School were not available. ... The St. Edward cheerleading team, made up of students from St. Joseph Academy and Magnificat, qualified Saturday to compete at the state event. ... Players unveiled the banner to commemorate the football team's first state championship at halftime of the basketball game Saturday. The banner is only a replica though -- the one that will hang from the rafters in perpetuity is still on its way.

ST. EDWARD 84

COLUMBUS NORTHLAND 81

NLHS   23   26   13   19   --   81 

SEHS   23   30   18   13   --   84

St. Edward (13-5): Delbert Love 20 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals. Elijah Brown 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists. Kyle Pisco 16 points, 2 assists. Myles Hamilton 10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block. Mike Newton 7 points, 5 assists, 3 steals. James Crawford 7 points, 2 assists, 3 steals. Jake Lorbach 3 points, 1 rebound. Mark Murray 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist. Marsalis Hamilton 2 points, 1 rebound. Zhakir Hillmon 1 rebound. Team: 84 points, 19 rebounds, 14 assists, 10 steals, 1 block, 8 turnovers, 15-for-20 free throws.

Columbus Northland (15-1): Trey Burke 35 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals. Jordon Potts 13 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 1 block. Devon Scott 10 points, 16 rebounds. Lavonte Justice 9 points, 1 assist. Jaylen Benton 5 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assist, 2 steals. Laquan Williams 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist. Roberto Pierre 2 points, 2 rebounds. Kechaun Lewis 5 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist. Team: 81 points, 29 rebounds, 16 assists, 5 steals, 1 block, 17 turnovers, 4-for-9 free throws.

JV: St. Edward 66, Columbus Northland 65 (Royal Eddie 14, Tony Vuyancih 11, Kevin Boyer 9, Tim Stainbrook 2 game-saving blocks in last 3.1 seconds).