LYNNWOOD — Someone forgot to tell Jasmin Edwards that the paint is reserved for bigger, taller players, not a 5-foot-4 guard.
And if they did, she didn’t listen. Edwards scored a game-high 21 points as the Lynnwood girls basketball team blew out one of its top Wesco 3A rivals Shorecrest 62-45, Jan. 28 at Lynnwood High School.
“She (Edwards) played at a different level in regards to her speed and ability to get to the hoop,” Lynnwood coach Everett Edwards said. “This was a huge game for us. If we’re able to finish the season strong we would have a great shot at getting the No. 1 seed at the district playoffs.”
The Royals rode into Saturday’s tilt having won seven straight games. The win also avenged a buzzer-beating 50-48 loss at Shorecrest on Dec. 14. Lynnwood finishes the regular season Feb. 2 at Everett. Lynnwood finished the week atop the league standings with a 12-2 mark. Shorecrest was in third place with a 10-3 record.
“We have been consistent playing defense, and with our style of defense we have been able to keep teams uncomfortable,” Everett Edwards said. “It’s been our offense that has been inconsistent, so when our shots start to fall like they were in the second quarter we can be a very good team.”
Lynnwood matched the Scots point for point as the first quarter ended tied at 15.
The Royals, however, broke free from the clingy Scots by going on an 8-0 run to begin the second quarter. They finished the quarter by outscoring Shorecrest 16-6 and led 31-21 at half. Senior Meghan Cross scored all seven of her points during that time.
Jasmin Edwards, who did just about everything, scored the bulk of her points off the dribble, and usually inside the key. She grabbed four rebounds for the game and sank a crucial 3-pointer in the third quarter to squash a Shorecrest 10-0 run, which was led by seniors Brianne Lasconia and Janie Uppinghouse. Lasconia scored nine points and Janie Uppinghouse sank three 3-pointers to get the Scots back to within one (41-40) with 42 seconds remaining in the third.
But the ever-persistent Royals didn’t back down. Arsenia Ivanov dropped a 3-pointer and Jasmin Edwards sank a running jump shot from five feet out in the final 27 seconds, giving them a 46-40 lead to start the final eight minutes.
Lynnwood was able to shut the door on Shorecrest for good in the fourth quarter thanks to a 14-3 run that covered the first six minutes of the quarter. Senior and team captain Casey Evans led the charge, scoring nearly all 9 of her 14 during that run.
“Casey’s been a rock for us all year long,” Everett Edwards said. “She is our floor general and she does the intangible things and we definitely needed that tonight because Shorecrest was bringing it tonight, but our players were able to meet that challenge.”
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