Over the weekend, the 4th grade boys pulled out wins in 2 of their 3 games.
On Friday night, the boys fell 24-19 in a defensive struggle against the Byram Hills A team. Edgemont led by 6 at the half, but a suffocating full-court press by the Bobcats closed the gap and put Byram up by 2 entering the final quarter. While the game was undecided until the final 2 minutes, the Armonkians ultimately prevailed.
Edgemont bounced back on Saturday, grabbing a season high 41 rebounds en route to a 30-21 win over Pleasantville. This statistic was gratifying to Coach Scags, who had emphasized rebounding in recent practices. That focus paid off, as strong rebounding offset a weaker-than-usual shooting night.
Our 4th-grade cagers saved the best for last, topping off a busy weekend with a thrilling 29-25 rematch win against a tough Pelham team. In the season opener, Edgemont escaped the raucous Mount St. Michael Academy gym with a one-point win against Pelham, so Sunday’s game was sure to be a barnburner. And the plucky Pelicans of Pelham did not disappoint.
It was deja vu all over again as Pelham jumped out to an early 4-0 lead to start the game. Edgemont weathered the early test and came back to tie the game 4-4 at the end of a first quarter that featured tight defense over the entire 94 feet of the court.
Full-court pressure is a new challenge for most 4th-grade ballers and the Edgemonters have gained valuable experience facing it all season. Against Pelham, the seasoning paid off, as Edgemont not only broke the press but exploited it for clean looks at the basket. By halftime, Edgemont led 17-10.
But the Pelicans swooped back. After an even 3rd-quarter, Pelham turned up the heat and the young Panthers found themselves nursing a 1-point lead. But solid ballhandling down the stretch and clutch free-throw shooting are always keys to victory in close contests, and that’s precisely how Edgemont pulled out this showdown.
The 4th-graders are back in action at Byram Hills B (Wampus School) this Friday January 26.
