“We want to show that we aren’t backing down from anybody.”
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Under the leadership of first-year head coach Michael Fulford, Edison’s boys basketball team is surging forward with confidence. The 11-4 Tigers, who have been matching up against some of the best teams in the Valley, are looking to prove that they too belong among the elites.
Edison displayed its most recent impressive outing at the Clovis Elks Tournament. The Tigers advanced to the championship game of the tournament after taking down teams such as Clovis High, Pleasant Grove and Merced. Edison only fell short in the final, losing 52-46 against Centennial.
“We want to show that we aren’t backing down from anybody and that we should be mentioned as one of the best teams in the Valley,” Edison junior Ray Brown said. “I think we saw that we had an opportunity to change what everybody has been saying about Edison Basketball over the last few years.”
With Fulford’s leadership, Brown said the team is learning to pay attention to all the details that make a difference in a basketball game.
“Coach always talks about how the small things matter and to pay attention to details,” Brown said. “We know we have to get better in a lot of areas. We still have a long way to go to get to where we know we can and want to be.”
Brown scored 17 points in Edison’s 60-49 win against Clovis High at the Clovis Elks Tournament. The junior had another strong performance on Dec. 14 when he scored 27 points in a 81-53 win against Roosevelt at Hoover’s Holiday Invitational Tournament.
A day later, Brown put up another dominating performance in the tournament, scoring 21 points to lead Edison to a 68-58 win against Central High. Ya’J Vance added 18 points for Edison in the win against Central.
The Tigers were named H.I.T Champions after taking down San Joaquin Memorial 59-58. Brown earned All-Tournament Team honors while Vance was named tournament MVP.
Another one of Edison’s memorable highlights happened on Dec. 9 when junior Kameron Bowen scored the game-winning shot in a 59-57 win against Central.
“The play was just well deserved by our team because in that game we were hustling our tails off and I happened to be in the position to make that last shot by receiving a perfect pass from Ya’J Vance,” Bowen said.
The Tigers faced some of their biggest tests early in the season when they lost 63-51 against Stockdale and 85-53 against powerhouse Clovis West. Since then, however, Fulford’s team has moved forward with a commitment to learn from the losses.
“Every loss that we take, we re-evaluate what we could’ve done better. For instance, weather it is boxing out or looking for higher percentage shots,” Bowen said.
The other key word for the Tigers is “composure.”
“Our key is keeping our composure when we face adversity everyday in practice, so the games can be easier when in difficult situations,” Bowen said.
Such type of lessons, Bowen says, extend beyond the court.
“Coach Fulford has preached to us that basketball is more than a game, it shows how many obstacles you face and how do you respond to those things that get in your way when life situations come up,” Bowen said.
While the team is learning valuable lessons and enjoying success on the court, they’re also making memories in many other ways.
“As much success that we’ve had on the court, my favorite moment is when we did team bonding at coach’s house,” Brown said. “Being able to eat and hang out with each other all day is the stuff we will probably all remember the most.”
“My favorite part of the season so far is our off the court team bonding sessions,” Bowen adds. “Our coaching staff stresses the importance of our brotherhood.”