<H1 class=red>Eagles seize control early, roust Rams
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Wednesday, March 08, 2006 Eddie Dwyer
Plain Dealer Reporter
Too much size, too much talent, too much depth and too much early pressure.
For the Rhodes High Rams, the top-seeded St. Edward Eagles were simply too much Tuesday night.
St. Edward, taking control immediately, eliminated the fourth-seeded Rams, 65-37, in a Division I boys basketball district semifinal game at Baldwin-Wallace College's Ursprung Gymnasium.
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The Eagles, who appear to be the area's leading candidate for a big-school state final four appearance, improved to 18-4 and extended their winning streak to 12 games. They will face the winner of today's 7 p.m. semifinal between third-seeded Brecksville-Broadview Heights and Normandy on Saturday at 7 p.m. for the B-W district championship.
"Earlier in the season, when teams wanted to pack in a zone against us, we were in trouble," said St. Edward coach Eric Flannery. "Guys weren't confident, guys weren't shooting the ball well. Now, we have options. Now, we can spread it around a little bit.
"And that just opens things up for our big guys inside."
Exuding confidence, the Eagles wasted little time in displaying their superiority.
After junior point guard Nne Lewis ignited the offense with a 3-pointer, a steal and a soft, driving one-hander, St. Edward took command on a 3-pointer by senior guard Reid Anderson, an offensive rebound and a three-point play by Anderson, and a 3-pointer by senior guard Jeff Aerni.
A putback by 6-10 junior center Scott Moviel and a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by junior guard Matt Salay made the score 23-5 after the first eight minutes.
St. Edward hit 14 of its first 20 shots, including 5 of 7 3-pointers, outrebounded the Rams, 16-8, over the first 16 minutes and forced 12 first-half turnovers.
Leading, 40-14, at halftime, the Eagles put an exclamation mark on the victory when all-district sophomore post Delvon Roe sandwiched two three-point plays around one of his six steals.
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