It’s one thing to win a state championship.
And yet another to repeat.
Edgewater joined an elite group of programs to three-peat at the state tournament. The Eagles won their third-straight title with a 53-34 victory over Pine Forest in the Class 6A state championship game.
Eagles coach Malcolm Lewis noted what sets Edgewater apart from many of the other programs to win multiple consecutive championships is the fact his program had to revamp its core group nearly every year. Each season, chemistry had to be redeveloped.
Edgewater’s bond was apparent in Lakeland this week. The Eagles forced their will on their opponents and set the tone in the semifinal and title game.
In the first quarter, Edgewater forced six turnovers and converted them in to six points to take a 16-11 lead. Overall, the Eagles forced 17 turnovers while committing only 7. Nyala Shuler led an 8-0 run to start the second quarter for a 24-11 lead.
Pine Forest cut the lead to eight after beginning the third quarter with three-straight points by Britney Snowden. But Edgewater responded with a three pointer by Haley Clark, which sparked a 7-0 run that was capped off with back-to-back baskets by Tiara McMillan for a 31-16 lead.
Snowden and Ty Purifoy did their best to keep Pine Forest in the game by combining for a 7-0 run to cut Edgewater’s lead to eight.
The Eagles, however, stormed out to a 15-3 run in the fourth, led by Clark’s six points for a 52-30 lead. Clark (13 points) was one of three Edgewater players to finish in double digits. Shuler had 14 points and 14 rebounds and McMillan led with 17.