By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Shooting has been Edgewood’s barometer of success, and that’s been Bedford North Lawrence’s super power during its torrid start. When shots fall, the Mustangs have been successful. When jumpers fall, the Stars have been almost unbeatable.
That will be the statistic of note when Edgewood (7-9) visits BNL Fieldhouse on Saturday night. The Mustangs have been tough on defense, allowing only three teams to score 60-plus points and giving up only 51.8 per game, but they are coming off back-to-back losses when they failed to reach 50, and they’re 1-6 when scoring less than that goal number.
‘Throughout the year we have been a very solid defensive team,” Edgewood coach Matt Wadsworth said. “We are looking to bounce back from poor shooting last weekend. BNL is a very good half-court defensive team. Finding transition points is important. In the half court, we will have to do a good job protecting the ball.”
Edgewood has the experience with four returning starters from a year ago, although junior forward Carl Norris (8.6 points per game) missed the first four games of the season while recovering from injury. Senior guard Mialin White leads the Mustangs in scoring at 12.1, and they have additional balance with Norris, junior Kam Ranard (8.3) and junior guard Carson Huttenlocker (7.1).
BNL won last year’s clash 58-39 at Edgewood, and the shooting-turnover combo told the story. Trace Rynders hit five treys and scored 16 points for the Stars, who hit 11 bombs and raced away with a 22-0 run. The Mustangs were also guilty of 18 turnovers.
“BNL is a very disciplined team that makes very few mistakes,” Wadsworth said. “From the outside looking in, it has been a seamless transition between coaches.”
Edgewood, which also missed some practice time this week because of school cancellation, is coming off Western Indiana Conference setbacks against Owen Valley (53-40) and Greencastle (55-45).
EDGEWOOD at BNL
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Records: Edgewood 7-9; BNL 9-2 (versus Seymour on Friday)
Sagarin ratings: Edgewood 61.88; BNL 80.48
Last meeting: Last year at Edgewood, Trace Rynders hit five 3-pointers and scored 16 points as the Stars shot to a 58-39 victory. Xzander Hammonds had 13 points for the Mustangs, who were guilty of 18 turnovers.
Previous game story: No Trace of a slump for Stars
Game notes: BNL’s eight-game winning streak and 9-2 start is its best since the 2010-11 season. Edgewood has not won at BNL since the 2009-10 season opener.
Starting lineups
Bedford NL Stars
F – Patric Matson 6-3 Jr.
F – Logan Miracle 6-4 Jr.
G – Noah Godlevske 5-11 Sr.
G – Trace Rynders 5-11 Sr.
G- Maddox Ray 5-11 Sr.
Edgewood Mustangs
F – Jacob Boggs 6-3 Sr.
F – Kam Ranard 6-3 Jr.
F – Carl Norris 6-2 Jr.
G – Carson Huttenlocker 5-11 Jr.
G – Mialin White 6-1 Sr.
