EC men prevail in OT victory at Olympic

BREMERTON, Wash. — Edmonds (5-2, 14-8) edged Olympic (1-6, 3-20) with a final score of 110-103 on Wednesday evening. Edmonds secured the triumph with a strong performance in the paint, scoring 62 points, and out-rebounding Olympic by 21 boards.

The game commenced with Edmonds and Olympic displaying evenly matched performances. Despite multiple turnovers, Edmonds managed to keep pace with Olympic, tying the score four times throughout the first half. A critical moment came at 2:13 when Adonai Daniel sank two free throws, giving Edmonds a brief lead. Avidan West and Hunter White contributed significantly with key baskets, helping Edmonds maintain competitiveness. The half concluded with a tense finish, as White's free throws tied the score at 52, closing the first half in a deadlock.

Edmonds showcased resilience in the second half, battling through multiple lead changes and ties. Kyrylo Kapinos played a pivotal role, contributing key points, including a layup to regain momentum at 15:15, giving Edmonds a five-point lead. Despite a surge from Olympic, Edmonds responded with a 3-pointer from Romeo Webber at 1:33, pushing their score to 100 and maintaining a narrow edge. The half ended with both teams locked at 100, each scoring 48 points in this intense segment.

Edmonds pulled away decisively in overtime, ignited by White's layup at 4:00, extending their lead to 102-100. Sebastian Cooper followed with another layup at 3:43, and White added a free throw at 2:57 to further solidify Edmonds' position. Despite Olympic's efforts, Edmonds maintained control, with West hitting two crucial free throws at 0:29. The game ended with Edmonds securing a 110-103 victory.

Kapinos led Edmonds with 22 points and collected 12 rebounds, showcasing his efficiency with nine field goals made from 15 attempts. White also made a significant impact, scoring 23 points and securing 16 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end. Sam Lockhart added an impressive 17 points, connecting on five 3-pointers out of nine attempts. Webber contributed with 20 points and matched Kapinos with 12 rebounds, rounding out a strong performance from the team.

Edmonds hosts No. 2-ranked Bellevue (20-2, 7-0) on Wednesday, February 4 at 5 p.m. The Bulldogs currently have the conference's longest winning streak at 20 games and sit atop the standings in the North Region. The Tritons have rattled off five straight wins to end the first round of region play.