Roosevelt storms back against Edison

Prologue
Its another Wednesday night trip to Edison.  While I was looking forward to the Walking Taco (grade C, but good call by me to add the hot sauce), the game itself seemed like another Wednesday night mismatch.  As they say, That's Why They Play The Games.

Game Time
Edison jumping out to a 7-2 lead 4:30 into the game. They would then get junior guard Brian Givens going with a layup, 3 and jumper for a 20-12 lead at the 8:10 mark.  The lead gets to 10 just outside of the 5 minute mark.  Roosevelt gets 7 in a row to cut the lead to 3 but Givens gets the last points of the half on the rare 4 point play.  30-21 Edison at the half.

Edison comes out in a 3-2 zone in the 2nd half and Roosevelt has nothing for it.  Add in some quality play from Dedrick Holifield off the Edison bench as he comes in only in the 2nd half and buries a 3 and gets a putback.  Forward Josh Perez with a coast to coast trip to the hoop and another drive for 2.  41-25 Edison with 13:20 to go.  That's the biggest of the game.  Frosh Arione Farrar Jr off the Roosevelt bench for back to back 3s as the Teddies try to chip into that lead.  Their best scorer Brandon Strickland drives and goes glass for 2 and puts back a miss after getting his 4th foul.  But he gets #5 with 7:52 left and Roosevelt down 55-45.  Momentum to Edison as they turn it over, get the benefit of a no call that would have been an easy 2 which they turn into a Holifield 3 point play.  52-40 Edison just inside of 6 to play.

Don't blink because the game changes in a hurry.  Soph Demetrius Durant with a drive for 2 FTs and steals the inbounds for 2 more.  Soph Terrance Hicks steals the next inbounds for 2 more freebies and puts back a miss.  Steven Childs with a big 3 at the 4 minute mark and all of a sudden its a 1 possession game.  54-51 Edison hanging on and they turn it over on a jump ball.  Farrar with drive, pulls up to not draw the charge then a quality head fake to get the defender up and jump in for the contact.  That's a veteran move from a freshman.  But both the free throws were no good.  Durant drives for 2 and Edison with a quick shot and miss.  Roosevelt will patiently hold vs the 3-2 inside of 3 minutes to play down 55-53. 

They get the top defender drawn to the ball in a 2 guard set.  Guard to guard pass (pulls the wing defender out) and the 2nd pass to the wing finds Childs wide open in the slot between defenders as the bottom defender doesn't get out to him.  Its a cold blooded 3 with 2:15 to go to put Roosevelt on top 56-55.  Edison with 3 chances on the offensive glass and can't convert.  Childs is fouled and makes 2 free throws.  Edison turns it over but Roosevelt misses the front end of the bonus with 44.6 to go.  Edison comes back, a drive to the rim is out of control but they get the call.  However, they can't make the free throws with 37.3 left.  Roosevelt walks after getting the rebound so Edison still has a chance down 58-55 with 33.3 to play.  Perez gets a look for the tying 3 from the left corner but Hicks swats it away.  Roosevelt makes their last 4 free throws for a 62-55 win.  Roosevelt closes the game on a 22-3 run over the last 5:42 with Edison going scoreless over the last 3:30.

Post Game
For Edison, they get good balance with 12 from soph Joseph Anderson, 11 from Josh Perez, 11 from Brian Givens (all 1st half) and 12 from Dedrick Holifield (all 2nd half).  Their 3-2 zone kept Roosevelt off balance.  I must say they looked better than I expected.  Far more disciplined and playing with a purpose much more than last year.  The Tommies fall to 3-7.  They play at Minneapolis Southwest on Friday.

For Roosevelt, give them credit for not hanging their heads.  Their full court pressure really bothered Edison and it paid off later in the game.  14 from soph Demetrius Durant and Frosh Aroine Farrar.  10 for the lefty Steven Childs and they were all clutch points in the last 4 minutes.  I liked Farrar's game as a strong wing who can shoot it (4 3s tonight).  Combine him with fellow frosh Terry Thomas and the future has light for the Teddies.  Roosevelt improves their record to 2-6 after 4 straight losses by at least 24 points.  They are at Minneapolis North on Friday.