By Mike Drooger

Edgerton Flying Dutchmen players, coaches, and fans were cautiously optimistic at halftime on February 19 when they led the Chargers of Westbrook-Walnut Grove 27-23. The Dutchmen had played about as well as they could. They led 8-2, 19-12, and 25-18 before settling for the 27-23 lead at the break against the 6-3 Chargers.

But players, coaches, and fans had seen Edgerton lead at halftime before during the 2021 season only to watch the Dutchmen struggle after the break. Such was the case against W-WG, and EHS went down in defeat 63-48.

The Dutchmen spread the wealth on their first three baskets to begin the game. Nolan Buckridge got the assist to Mason Gilbertson for two. Gil-bertson got the assist to Keegan Fey for a triple. Buckridge, who ended the game with five assists, got assist number two to Gabe Gilbertson for another trey and it was 8-2.

After a Chargers timeout and two free throws, Edgerton went right back to work. Fey hit Mason down low for two. Buckridge fed Mason for two more. Fey (four steals) hit a second long ball (assist Jacob Ockenga) and then Fey hit another from long distance to put Edgerton up 18-12. A Mason free throw gave EHS a seven-point lead.

Edgertonites were smiling with delight after W-WG’s all-star Ethan Mischke picked up his second foul sending him to the bench. The EHS smiles turned to shrieks of delight thanks to Gabe “Jumping Jack” Gilbertson. Gabe got a steal from his wing position in Edgerton’s 1-3-1 zone defense and headed for Edgerton’s bucket. Visions of the 1976 ABA slam-dunk contest, where Julius Erving performed a dunk taking off just inside the free throw line, danced in Gabe’s head. Of the four dunks he’s had in ’21, this one against the Chargers was the most authoritative and it put Edgerton up 23-18.