When the Beachwood’s Kyndal Wilson started dancing to Wiz Khalifa’s Black and Yellow at the start of the fourth quarter, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Tuesday night’s girls’ basketball game had been going really well for the Lady Bison.
And if Khalifa’s hit song didn’t make it plain enough, then Queen’s classic We Are the Champions, certainly did, blaring loud and proud with a minute remaining in the game, no less.
All this was not likely intended to show up visiting Independence. Nonetheless, no amount of proper etiquette for the fallen could hide the 60-30 drubbing their Chagrin Valley Conference foes put on them Tuesday night.
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And why shouldn’t the Lady Bison be happy? After years of being on the wrong end of nights like these, Tuesday night’s win allowed Beachwood to finally grab at least a share of the CVC’s Metro Division title with Cuyahoga Heights.
While Beachwood coach Melvin Burke was certainly happy to see the Lady Bison transform into winners, senior guard Maya Eddie’s joy likely trumped his. After all, this was Burke’s first year as the team’s head coach. But Eddie had borne witness to three tough years of defeats and is enjoying a senior season with a 16-4 record overall and a 9-1 mark in the CVC.
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“It’s so much easier (than in the past). It takes a load off of me. I used to run point guard. The team used to be on my back, but now that we have players, it’s a team effort,” said Eddie, who finished with a game-high 22 points and three steals.
Burke’s fondness for the diminutive Eddie, listed at 5-foot-3, and all she’s gone through was clear.
“This is her first winning season. … She deserves this victory,” Burke said. “She’s our captain. She’s our leader. She’s our favorite. She’s our baby doll,” Burke said.
Krystal Pearson also scored in double digits for Beachwood with 11 points.
As for the game itself, needless to say, it wasn’t much of a contest.
Independence didn’t score in double digits in any quarter, posting a game-low five points in the second stanza. The game was so out of reach that members of the Independence entourage could be seen napping in the stands.
The Blue Devils were outmatched in every area: hustle, quickness, outside shooting, inside shooting, rebounds, assists, and inevitably, will.
The Lady Bison defense tightened its grip, forcing 20 steals in the game, many of which led to easy layups for Eddie and her cohorts.
Believe it or not, Independence did lead once. Blue Devils senior captain Annie Klindworth, who led her team with 11 points, sank 1 of 2 free throws … for the game’s first point. It was all downhill after that.
Independence fell to 7-13 overall and 5-5 in the CVC.
The Lady Bison travel to Cardinal today for a 7:30 p.m. tip and face Middlefield Cardinal in the first round of the Division III tournament on Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. at Lakeside High School.
Independence: 9 5 8 8 30
Beachwood: 19 14 18 9 60
Independence: Annie Klindworth 11 points, Amanda Jeric 5, Caitlyn Synek 5, Mollie Tarski 4, Megan Kraus 3, Sarah Andexler 2.
Beachwood: Maya Eddie 22, Krystal Pearson 11, Mikah Aldridge 9, Monique Kaiser 8, Mercedes Hudson 6, Aneisha Hardin 4.