Only a sophomore, Edwards hits 1,000-point mark in win
KNOXVILLE — Knoxville Cathoic High School sophomore point guard B.J. Edwards is one of the area’s most highly touted players. And on Saturday night, Feb. 1, he reached a career milestone.
Edwards scored 32 points and surpassed the 1,000-point mark in his illustrious career, as the Fighting Irish routed Cedar Bluff-area rival Christian Academy of Knoxville 93-58 at KCHS.
“This is great,” Edwards said. “I knew coming in that I needed 31 points (to get to 1,000 career points) but I didn’t do anything different.
“I just came in here and I played my game.”
Edwards got some cheers from the crowd when the school announced his accomplishment. But one person wasn’t around to see it.
Senior forward Akeem Odusipe missed Saturday’s game against the Warriors, as he was in the Northeast on an official visit to the University of Rhode Island.
“We didn’t have Akeem, and that gave me a chance to score more,” Edwards said.
Irish head coach Mike Hutchens remains in awe of Edwards’ accomplishment.
“He’s got 1,000 points against the schedule we’ve played,” Hutchens said. “He’s a sophomore and we still have some games to go this year.”
No Odusipe, no problem for Catholic Saturday night.
The Irish (18-4 starting the week) had three other players score in double figures and two more finish the game with eight points.
Handje Tamba had 16 points, Presley Patterson added 12 and Blue Cain finished with 10. Ben Sompayrac and Sam Sompayrac scored eight points each for Catholic, which led the Warriors (15-9) 25-19 at the end of the first quarter.
The Irish, who had a 47-30 advantage at halftime, really blew things open and cruised in the second half.
“We’re really hitting on all cylinders right now,” Hutchens said. “We’re playing well.”
CAK head coach Shane Wells was a bit distraught after the game.
“I was really disappointed with our effort tonight,” Wells said. “I didn’t see many positives. They tried to come in here and embarrass us and they did.”
Denzel Jackson led the Warriors with 13 points and John Ogle added 12.
