La Conner slams Hurricanes in key road win

C.J. Edwards scored a season-high 17 points to go along with his usual deft passing in leading La Conner to a convincing 56-39 NW2B/1B boys’ basketball win over Mount Vernon Christian at a packed DeKok Court on Jan. 30.

Edwards, the reigning Skagit Valley Herald Boys’ Athlete of the Week, threw several dazzling overhand baseball passes from backcourt to ignite a lethal La Conner transition game that was especially effective in the decisive second half.

The 5-10 junior point guard drained two of his three perimeter treys during a 16-7 fourth quarter run that sealed the verdict.

An Edwards three-pointer and mid-range jumper by Jarrett Hatch allowed La Conner, which trailed much of the first half, to forge a 26-26 tie at halftime.

Ivory Damien, who finished with 13 points, hit a three-pointer coming out of the break to give the Braves a 29-26 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

La Conner doubled its lead, to 34-28, when Damien hit a layup and drew a foul after taking a pinpoint pass from Edwards.

Following Damien’s free throw, MVC’s Trevor Blom hit a floater in the paint that briefly cut the lead to 34-30.

The Hurricanes (8-11 overall; 7-3 in league) would get no closer.

Damien answered with a lob to Brayden Pedroza off a behind-the-back dribble. Pedroza took the pass in midair and softly banked it home for two of his 12 points.

From there, the visitors closed with a 20-9 spurt.

Tyson Benfit buried a three-pointer seconds into the fourth quarter to pull the Hurricanes within 40-35. The hosts would score only four points the rest of the way.

Corran Eisen joined Edwards, Damien and Pedroza in double-figure scoring for La Conner. Eisen tallied 11 points, seven in the first half, including a three-pointer.

Hatch, who logged quality minutes off the bench, finished with four points, all in the second quarter.

First-year coach Lance Lopez, whose club improved to 13-5 overall and 7-0 in NW2B/1B action, praised Edwards afterward for orchestrating the Braves’ attack.

“C.J. played really well,” Lopez told the Weekly News. “He kept us under control. So that was really nice. And he had a season high in points.

“We’re playing really well,” Lopez added. “But we’ll get back to work and get ready for Coupeville.”

La Conner, which hosted Coupeville Tuesday night, is scheduled at Friday Harbor this Friday (Feb. 9) in the season finale for both teams.

La Conner edged Coupeville 69-68 in January. The Braves defeated Friday Harbor 68-54, also last month.