St. Edward tops Ridgewood for 1st win
St. Edward will take the win.
If it wasn't an artistic success, that's OK. Despite a cold-shooting second half, the Green Wave notched their first victory of the pandemic shortened season, 43-28, against Ridgewood.
Erik Hill scored 17 points, all in the first half, and added 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and a pair of blocks. Kaden Dawson and Robert Wilson added 8 points apiece for St. Edward (1-6).
The visiting Rebels couldn't buy a basket early. St. Edward led 7-0 before Ridgewood scored its first basket with 1:05 to go in the first quarter. St. Edward stretched the lead to 13-2 and led 25-10 at halftime.
"We've been trying this whole year, and we've been playing as hard as we can each game," said Hill, who scored the Wave's first 10 points. "I think it's really starting to show now. We had a few solid practices and it's definitely showing. We're hoping to make a run now."
After the break, the Rebels collapsed their defense into the paint and dared the Wave to beat them from outside. The Wave struggled, making just 3 of 22 from beyond the arc, none in the second half. But St. Edward found a way to get it done.
"We didn't shoot well at all," said Wave coach Andy Zielinski. "We just talked about how we kept going back to the 3. And it was just collectively everyone. These kids can shoot, but I don't know. It was just really weird."
Ridgewood put together a 7-2 run near the end of the third quarter to get within 29-17. The Rebels cut it to 11 several times in the fourth, the last at 37-26. Then Dawson scored on a short jumper and added 2 free throws with just over 2 minutes left to make it 41-26. Shortly thereafter Ridgewood coach Chris Mroz emptied his bench, effectively conceding.
The Wave defense smothered the Rebels all night, holding them to 23% shooting and forcing 18 turnovers. St. Edward also outrebounded the visitors, 29-25. Dawson also had 8 boards and Jacob Breier 5.
"Our defense has been pretty good and that's been keeping us in the games," Zielinski said. "We've just got to start hitting some shots. If they do that, I think we'll be pretty dangerous."