The center pumps in a game-high 23 points as EL grabs its first win of the season.
By Peter Mullen
Staff Writer

AUBURN – Well, if they waited a few games to clinch a win, why not wait until the second half to finally do it.

Edward Little’s Kenny Poulin led all scorers with 23 points and nine rebounds to propel the Red Eddies to their first win of the season, 49-33, at the expense of Gardiner in KVAC basketball Friday night.

In a battle of teams both looking for that elusive first win, it was the final eight minutes that removed any doubt for EL.

Edward Little (1-4) never trailed in the contest but neither did it have complete control. Poulin hit for eight points in the opening frame for an 11-5 lead after one quarter.

“I score mostly inside,” said Poulin. “My teammates set me up good on drive and dishes. We are most effective when our guys drive into the paint. Jerry (Whalen) and Shawn (Campbell) did an excellent job of getting me the ball.”

“I may be biased,” said Edward Little coach Mike Adams. “But I think he is one of the best strictly low-post players in the state. His teammates do a great job being really patient. They know he is one of our main offensive threats and they are patient in finding him. We’ve said all along you don’t have to score 20 points to be a good basketball player.”

The Tigers (0-5) dug in and a pair of free throws by Peter Kelley with five minutes to play in the half cut the deficit to two. A field goal by Ryan Sutherburg closed out the scoring for the half with EL holding a 21-18 lead.

Gardiner’s Craig Toulouse hit a pair of buckets in the third, the first tying the game at 22.

Poulin countered with a layup and a Troy Barnies three-pointer and field goal pushed EL ahead for good. Edward Little led by seven entering the final quarter.

“I told coach Duran after the game that they played great defense,” said Adams. “They were really physical. It definitely got them back into the game and it was good for our kids to handle that.”

The Red Eddies doubled up Gardiner in the fourth to put the game away. Ten of the team’s 18 points came at the charity stripe.

“I think a lot of getting that first win was psychological,” said Adams. “A new group of kids playing a totally new style and system and in a new conference. Everything is new. They need to build belief in themselves and each other. Over Christmas break we started clicking.”

“I was pleased with our defensive performance for the first 20 minutes of the game,” said Gardiner coach Dan Duran. “After that I wasn’t pleased with it. We had some mental breakdowns.”

Ryan Ford scored eight points for EL. Campbell contributed seven. No Tiger reached double figures. Eric Gosline led the team with eight.

[email protected]