By By JEFF FISHER / Vigilant/Argus
EDWARDSBURG - The Edwardsburg Eddies welcomed the Brandywine Bobcats Friday, and came away with a 80-42 conference victory. The Eddies sweep the season series with the Bobcats.
The victory also snapped a four game losing streak for the Eddies.
The Eddies began the first quarter committing two early turnovers, but they quickly regrouped to take an early 7-0 lead. The Eddies overwhelming defense held the Bobcats scoreless until the 5:29 mark of the first quarter. Turnovers by the Bobcats led to transition points that opened up an 18-9 lead for the Eddies. The quarter ended with the Eddies leading 20-11. The Eddies' Nick Roth had 10 first quarter points, while the Bobcats' Matt Beaver had six points.
The Eddies jumped out to a 22-13 lead two minutes into the second quarter. The lead later swelled to 34-14 at the 3:03 mark. Turnovers hurt the Bobcats, as the Eddies were able to convert those into points. The Eddies outscored the Bobcats in the quarter 19-7, and to take a 39-18 lead into the intermission.
Roth of the Eddies opened the third quarter with two straight buckets for the home team. The Eddies lead increased to 17 points as the Eddies took a 47-21 advantage at the halfway mark. The Eddies outscored the Bobcats 19-14 in the quarter, and the Eddies led 58-32 at the end of three. Bobcats' Alex Newman chipped in six third quarter points.
A 10-0 run by the Eddies in the fourth quarter gave them a 68-32 lead. The stingy Eddies defense once again did not allow the Bobcats to score until the 4:21 mark in the quarter. This gave the Eddies the home victory. The Bobcats were outscored by the Eddies 22-10.
The Bobcats were led in scoring by Alex Newman with 11 points, Bill Bussey and Matt Beaver with six points each.
Nick Roth led the Eddies with 22 points, Doug Shuttleworth had 16 points along with 10 rebounds, Tony Hayes with 12 points, and Zac Rooney chipped in 10 points.
The Eddies improve to 3-9 in conference play, and 6-12 overall. They traveled to Cassopolis to take on the Rangers Tuesday night.
The Series between these two teams was tied at 1-1.
The Eddies beat the Rangers in the Holiday Classic, and the Rangers beat the Eddies on a last second shot in overtime by Cass' Kevin Luckey.
The Eddies JV team posted a 68-50 victory over the Bobcats in the game played earlier.
BRANDYWINE 42
Alex Newman 5 1-2 11, Matt Wieger 0 0-0 0, Zach Bennett 2 0-1 4, Kyle Low 1 0-0 2, Matt Beaver 2 2-2 6, Bill Bussey 2 0-0 6, Billy McDonald 2 1-2 5, Adam Prescott 1 0-1 3, Justin Ely 2 0-0 5. Totals: 17 4-8 42
EDWARDSBURG 80
Doug Shuttleworth 5 5-7 16, Nick Roth 9 4-4 22, Matt Horvath 2 0-0 4, Rick Finley 0 2-2 2, Zac Rooney 4 0-2 8, Robbie Sevison 1 0-0 2, Anthony Hayes 6 0-3 12, Branden Muszynski 0 0-0 0, David Daniels 3 0-1 6, Steve Gowen 1 0-0 2, Pat Huggett 0 3-4 3, Alex Antoniu 0 2-2 2, Ted Pieztrek 0 1-2 1. Totals: 31 17-27 80
Brandywine 11 18 32 42
Edwardsburg 20 39 58 80
Three-point baskets: Brandywine 4 (Bussey 2, Ely, Prescott), Edwardsburg 1 (Shuttleworth). Total fouls (fouled out): Brandywine 20 (Beaver), Edwardsburg 15 (none). J.V. score: Edwardsburg 68 (Adam Hancock 21), Brandywine 50 (Danny Williams 12)