Being a freshman on a varsity basketball team is no easy task, especially for the Eddies’ A.J. Rosebush.

“It’s definitely tough,” Rosebush said following Edwardsburg’s 37-31 overtime win over Sturgis Tuesday.  “But I am getting the hang of it.”

“He has come along a lot since the start of the season,” Edwardsburg boys basketball coach Steve Wright said. “A.J. has worked for everything that he has earned so far.”

And his hard work showed on Tuesday night as the Eddies hosted Sturgis. Rosebush received his first start of the season, draining the opening 3-pointer of the game to get Edwardsburg off to a good start.

“That bucket was huge,” Wright said. “That got us going in the first quarter.”

Rosebush is only the third freshman to make the Edwardsburg varsity team in 10 years. Central Michigan University and former standout guard Josh Kozinski and current senior Dante Razzano are the others.

“Dante has showed me a lot because he has been in my shoes before,” Rosebush said. “He is a really good teammate.”

Basketball isn’t the only sport that Rosebush plays. He also plays three positions in baseball.

“I play second base, third base and pitcher,” he said.

At the halfway point of the year the Eddies are 5-5 and travel to Three Rivers Friday night, but Rosebush still has a lot to do.

“I want to be a better teammate,” Rosebush said. “I want to get my averages up in assists and steals.  I still have three more years to improve.”