LEBANON — Edgewood’s resiliency got the better of the Tri-West girls’ basketball team Saturday, as the Bruins lost in the opening round of regionals, 53-47.
Tri-West junior Lauren DeSutter — fresh off of 30- and 36-point performances — had little room to breathe throughout the game. DeSutter hit one 3-pointer and never went to the foul line en route to her team-high 17 points.
“We just wanted to make her work for everything,” Edgewood coach Gary Sims said. “She’s a good player, she’s got a great pull-up jumper and does a good job of getting to the line.”
The Mustangs utilized a 16-2 run between the third and fourth quarters to pave the way for their six-point victory. It came at a great time as Tri-West had taken its biggest lead of the day, 33-27.
“A game like this, a five- or six-point lead is pretty big,” Sims said. “We were able to defend and make some plays to get back in it.”
Tri-West coach Brad Acton did his best keeping DeSutter and his starters fresh, but found his offense lacking without them. With a somewhat comfortable lead, Acton sat DeSutter and senior Jade Hill with a minute to go in the third.
DeSutter, while tired, was hurting after taking a shot in the ribs late in the second quarter and Hill was in foul trouble. Yet that’s when Edgewood started its run and ended the third quarter on a 5-0 run.
“We were hoping we could weather the storm going into the fourth quarter without those two,” Acton said. “Obviously, Edgewood was able to cut into the score and have a little momentum going into the fourth quarter.”
Edgewood kept it up in the fourth, scoring from everywhere — from offensive rebounds to 3-pointers to foul shots. They went 8-of-11 from the foul line to finish the game.
“They’re a good team, they knocked down some shots when they needed to in a tight game, and we had a two- or three-minute stretch where we just couldn’t score,” Acton said.
Both teams started the game slow.
With 2:35 left in the first quarter, it was a 4-2 affair and gave the Bruins a first look at the Mustang’s impressive defense.
“They play good, solid defense for 32 minutes,” Acton said. “They make it difficult for you to get into some of your sets, but we made some adjustments and did a better job of attacking their defense, especially between the second and third quarters.”
With foul trouble from Hill and Jessie O’Neal, who eventually fouled out late in the fourth, the bench performed admirably and kept the team in the game.
Dani Waldeck once again provided a spark this postseason. She hit two straight 3-pointers, cutting the Mustangs’ lead and tied the game 23-23 going into halftime.
“Other kids stepped up and played well,” Acton said. “Cary Brown gave us some good minutes rebounding. Dani Waldeck came in and hit some huge buckets.”
In the end, the Bruins could not keep pace with the Mustang’s strong second and early third quarter play.
“They made plays down the stretch, and a few possessions here and there just didn’t go our way,” Acton said. “Tough way to end the year, but I’m proud at what the kids accomplished.”
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