By Travis Smola
The Vicksburg boys’ varsity basketball team picked up its ninth win of the season by a score of 57-48 against a good Edwardsburg team in another exciting game at home.
“They’re a good team, they’re tough,” said head coach Rob Johnson.
The two teams traded the lead back and forth through much of the first two quarters as the Bulldogs uncharacteristically missed some shots. However momentum shifted in the third as Vicksburg calmed down and started to pull away.
“We talked about being patient at halftime and finding that high post,” Johnson said.
He praised junior Brenden Lovell’s excellent efforts in one of his best games all season. Other notable performances came from junior Blake Rankin, who used his speed to cut through the Eddies’ defense all night long. “We make up for our lack of size with good hustle,” Johnson said.
And as he’s done all season, there was an especially memorable moment from junior Deondre Lovell. Late in the third he snatched up a loose ball and broke away down court and nailed a huge twisting dunk that brought the team and fans alike leaping out of their seats in wild celebration.
As has often been the case this season, the depth of the team was a key factor. On any given night, when opposing defenses key in one player, they often overlook others who step up. Johnson said players like sophomore Trenton Lomason easily get forgotten in the shuffle by opponents. “All of them hurt teams,” Johnson said. “I’m very proud of how they’re playing.”
The Bulldogs have had a pretty solid February thus far. They started things off with a 67-62 overtime win against St. Joseph at home. They dropped the next two games against Sturgis and Plainwell before bouncing back with a 78-63 win against Otsego.
Although several games have to be rescheduled at the end of February, Vicksburg boys’ broke even with a big win against Mattawan, 58 – 56, and lost at Three Rivers, 72 – 51.