Edison’s 67-63 Victory Is Just What Coach Ordered

Edison Coach Dave White came to the conclusion that his team’s lapses this season have occurred when Marie Philman didn’t shoot the ball. So White gave the order. Give it to Philman.

Philman, who needed 37 points to surpass 2,000 in her career, got a season-high 35 Tuesday as seventh-ranked Edison beat fifth-ranked Fountain Valley, 67-63.

Philman scored 12 of Edison’s 18 fourth-quarter points as the host Chargers (16-7, 5-2 in league) extended their 49-48 third-quarter lead to 10 points with 1 minute 50 seconds left.

Philman said she couldn’t remember giving a better offensive performance against such a quality team, or seeing a better performance by her team this season.

“This was the best executed offensive game we’ve had this year,” Philman said.

It came after a practice in which White delivered the basics of winning basketball.

“I pulled [Philman] aside first and we talked, and I told her that she’s not getting enough shots,” White said. “It was part my fault, part her fault and part the team’s fault. And then I told the team that we had to have Marie take more shots, and they understood.”

Edison did a nice job of setting screens and breaking Philman free from Fountain Valley defender Nicole Strange. Philman converted 14 of 25 from the field; she had 24 of her team’s 35 second-half points.

“She does that to us every year,” said Strange (20 points, eight rebounds, five assists).

Fountain Valley (20-4, 5-2) is now tied with Edison for second place; a week ago, the Barons were unbeaten, alone in first, and ranked third in the county. They have now lost two in a row.

Trailing, 15-12, Edison went on an 18-6 run in the second quarter, with Kerry O’Bric scoring seven of her 16 points; Fountain Valley’s Jennifer Ludwicki (25 points, nine rebounds) spent the half’s final 4:42 on the bench with three fouls.

Edison shot 48% (27-56) from the field and held a 41-30 rebounding edge, led by Carey Bartling’s 13. Bartling had seven points.

In other Sunset League games:

Esperanza 58, Los Alamitos 49--Lindsay Foss scored 17 points for 10th-ranked Esperanza (17-4, 4-3), which led by 24 after three quarters. Stacey Nichols scored 21 for Los Alamitos (10-10, 1-6).

Marina 62, Huntington Beach 45--Sonya Bryant scored 24 points as fourth-ranked Marina (18-3, 6-1) moved into first place. Renee Kimoto’s 14 points led Huntington Beach (10-12, 0-7).