Dream Big

Edmiston too tall, too smooth, too versatile for Clinton

Dylan Jackson rips off a rebound for the Rebels on Saturday. Photos by Jolanda Jansma

By Stefan Cooper
Editor
Blount Press Row

Rebel center Isaac Edmiston scored from inside and out during Saturday's region quarterfinal.

It was a big night.

Maryville rolled, and Will got himself a date for the prom.

Rebel big man Isaac Edmiston torched Clinton from the 3-point line and the paint, the tall, smooth junior leading the way 15 points and three treys as the Rebels dispatched Clinton, 50-32, in a Region 2AAA quarterfinal Saturday night at James Campbell Gymnasium.

Maryville student Will Murrin asked Rebel cheerleader Christina Fry to the prom during the game, and Fry accepted.

Maryville next hosts Powell in a region semifinal on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

As the Rebels made their move with a third-quarter defensive lockdown, Maryville student Will Murrin sprang to action in the stands. Holding aloft a sign he’d brought, he asked Rebel cheerleader Christina Fry, nearby on the baseline, to the prom.

Fry accepted, and Maryville went on to finish the job with a fourth-quarter burst that put it away.

“I thought in the second half, we dictated what happened on both ends of the court,” Rebel coach Mark Eldridge said.

Edmiston was the only Rebel to reach double figures as Maryville shared the wealth, guards T.J. Kimble and John Garrett tossing in nine and eight points, respectively. Brian Landers had six, with Dylan Jackson’s free throw putting the Rebels at the 50-point mark with 30 seconds to play.

Jacob Williamson knocked down a pair of 3s en route to finishing with 10 to lead the Dragons.

John Garrett makes a move the baseline Saturday.

Striking from the perimeter, Clinton countered Maryville’s size advantage underneath with treys early, the Dragons trailing 10-8 after a quarter. Kimble and Garrett got to the basket for layups early in the second frame. When the Dragons collapsed to help, Edmiston let fly with back-to-back 3s for a 22-15 Maryville lead with a minute to play in the half.

“We were moving the ball really well and passing it well,” Edmiston said, “so it was hard for them to stay with us.”

Clark McCall’s following layup made it 24-15 at the break. Another trey from Edmiston early in the third, and the Rebels put it away on defense, limiting the Dragons to five points in the period.

“We thought we could defend in the halfcourt with our length,” Eldridge said. “We thought we just need to be solid and contest their shots.”

It was 35-20 Maryville to start the fourth.