Edgewood-Colesburg boys' basketball takes 9-1 mark into break

SPRINGVILLE — It's a tricky mix.

The kids want to play. But you don't want to embarrass an undermanned opponent.

'We talked about it before the game,' said Justin Olind, boys' basketball coach at Edgewood-Colesburg. 'It wasn't that long ago that we were on the other end of this.

'If you knock somebody down, we want to be sure to help them back up.'

He was talking both literally and figuratively.

Ed-Co stung Cedar Valley Christian in a first half that featured a 32-0 run, but eased off the throttle in a 93-27 Tri-Rivers Conference contest Friday night at Machovec Gymnasium.

Five players scored in double figures, led by freshman Parker Rochford with 17 points, as the Vikings improved to 9-1 overall, 8-1 in the Tri-Rivers.

'This team is a really balanced team. We play for the person beside is,' said Ben Ernst, who added 14 points. 'We share the ball a lot.'

Preston Rochford tallied 12 points, and Calvin Heims and Jacob Wessel added 10 apiece.

The win was Ed-Co's fifth straight after a 44-point loss to Class 1A No. 2 North Linn.

'Nine-and-1 was our goal at this point,' Olind said. 'We really responded after the North Linn game. We've practiced with a lot of purpose.'

Leading 12-4 early, the Vikings scored the last 24 points of the first quarter and the first eight of the second. They led 59-10 at halftime, then coasted from there.

Kyle Gustafson paced Cedar Valley (1-8, 1-7) with 11 points. Cole Telecky scored eight, including a 3-footer at the final buzzer.

EDGEWOOD-COLESBURG 93, CEDAR VALLEY CHRISTIAN 27

At Springville

EDGEWOOD-COLESBURG (93): Parker Rochford 6 3-4 17, Calvin Heims 5 0-0 10, Jacob Wessel 5 0-0 10, Ethan Streicher 2 3-3 8, Preston Rochford 5 0-0 12, Ben Ernst 5 2-2 14, Spencer Staner 1 0-0 3, Brayden Stannard 2 0-0 6, Riley Ashline 2 0-0 4, Tony Wright 3 0-0 7, Jared Childers 1 0-0 2, Dalton Jaster 0 0-0 0, Zach Knipper 0 0-0 0. Totals 37 8-11 93.

CEDAR VALLEY CHRISTIAN (27): Jackson Foote 0 0-0 0, Kyle Gustafson 4 2-4 11, Zach Slama 0 6-6 6, Cole Telecky 3 1-2 8, Dakota Jordan 0 0-0 0, Elisha Lewis 1 0-0 2. Totals 8 9-12 27.

Halftime: Ed-Co 59, Cedar Valley 10. 3-point goals: Ed-Co 11 (Pa.Rochford 2, Streicher, Pr.Rochford 2, Ernst 2, Stannard 2, Staner, Wright). Team fouls: Cedar Valley 2 (Gustafson, Telecky). Ed-Co 11, Cedar Valley 11. Fouled out: Foote.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com