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Tigers open with win

RICHMOND — Wellsville’s pressure defense made the difference against Edison.

The Edison boys basketball team committed 30 turnovers, and Wellsville converted many of them into easy baskets as the Tigers rolled past the Wildcats, 80-30, in season opener for both teams Saturday night.

“We played great defense,” Wellsville coach Bug Thompson said. “We wanted to put pressure on them, and we did. We tried to get out and run.”

Sparked by a 28-point second quarter, Wellsville led 44-13 at halftime.

“It was not the start we wanted,” first-year Edison coach Jeremy Matics said. “We got sped up in the second quarter. They put pressure on us. Things just did not go our way.”

The Wildcats committed 21 turnovers in the first half.

“We try to get out and run,” Thompson said. “That is our game plan. Your best offense is a good defense.”

The Wildcats were held to single digits in each of the first three quarters, while the Tigers scored at least 14 points in all four quarters.

“They didn’t really do anything unexpected,” Matics said. “In the first quarter, we stuck with our game plan. Then, we got sped up in the second quarter, and we fell apart.”

Wellsville was balanced offensively as five players scored in double digits.

Jaxon Brewer led the way with a game-high 19 points, seven assists and five steals. Gavin Koontz contributed 17 points, Isaiah Greathouse totaled 15 points, seven steals and five assists and Tyrell Watkins had 14 points. Eddie Stock collected a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

“We knew we were more athletic than they were, and it showed,” Thompson said.

Tremendous West tallied a team-high 12 points to lead the Wildcats, while Kaden Miller added eight and Dakota Coil six. West and Coil each grabbed four rebounds.

“This is his (Matics) first year, and he has a lot of work to do,” Thompson said. “They didn’t have some kids come out, and that doesn’t help matters.”

The Tigers led 16-6 after the first quarter.

“We know they like to get out and run,” Matics said. “Our goal was to slow them down and run our offense. I give credit to our guys. We were able to do that in the first quarter, but then they pressured us and they were able to get some easy baskets.”

Wellsville led 58-19 entering the fourth.

“We played well,” Thompson said. “We had one freshman starting. Tyrell Watkins is a freshman, and he played well.”

Wellsville won the two-quarter junior varsity game, 24-6.

Edison will host Buckeye 8 North Division rival East Liverpool on Tuesday.

“It doesn’t get any easier,” Matics said.

Wellsville will play at United on Friday.

“We got to play, and now we get a break,” Thompson said. “We get a chance to go over some stuff. We made some mistakes. We made some passes we didn’t need to make. We have time to work on those things. We will have a chance to watch the film. I will get a chance to watch United play (Heartland) on Tuesday.”

WELLSVILLE: 16-28-14-22–80

EDISON: 6- 7- 6-11–30

WELLSVILLE SCORING: Stock 6 0-2 13, Brewer 7 5-6 19, Heffner 0 0-0 0, Greathouse 6 3-4 15, Douglas 1 0-0 2, Watkins 7 0-0 14, Koontz 7 0-0 17, K. Ramey 0 0-0 0, D. Ramsey 0 0-0 0. TEAM TOTALS: 34, 8-12: 80.

EDISON SCORING: West 5 1-2 12, Jackson 1 0-0 2, Miller 3 0-0 8, Watson 1 0-0 2, Rawson 0 0-0 0, Petrey 0 0-0 0, Smith 0 0-0 0, Daugherty 0 0-0 0, Scaffidi 0 0-0 0, Peeraprasompong 0 0-0 0, Jones 0 0-0 0, Dinger 0 0-0 0, Coil 3 0-0 6. TEAM TOTALS: 13, 1-2: 30.

Three-point goals: Wellsville 4 (Koontz 3, Stock), Edison 3 (Miller 2, West).

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