Knights finally finish off Edmondson

It took a span of 10 days, but the boys’ basketball game between Edmondson and City College is now in the record books. The No. 8 Knights defeated the fourth-ranked Red Storm, 64-52, Monday afternoon at Northwestern.

Senior guard Nick Faust scored a game-high points 30 for City (13-7 overall), which improved to 6-2 in the Baltimore City league Division I. Kavon Pyatt led Edmondson (14-3, 6-2 Division I) with 23 points.

The game, a rematch of last season’s Class 2A North Region title game, started Feb. 4 at City College before a large audience. The Knights opened up a 48-34 advantage with 5 minutes, 36 seconds remaining in regulation.

During a timeout, a fight broke out in the stands. City school police officers used mace to gain control of the situation. After the gym was emptied, the game was suspended because the chemicals from the mace remained in the gym.

After an investigation, four City players were suspended for leaving the bench during the incident. The game was resumed Monday on Park Heights Avenue with only players, coaches and officials.

Edmondson briefly got the margin under double-digits, but the Knights pulled away to win for the fifth time in their last six decisions. The two-time defending Class 2A state champ Knights can clinch a berth in the city Division I title game against No. 1 Patterson next week at Morgan State University with a victory at Poly Friday afternoon.

“I’m proud of how we’ve battled back,” said City coach Mike Daniel, whose team struggled after being ranked No. 1 in the preseason. “We’ve made this extremely difficult, but we’re still standing.”

City trailed 27-21 at halftime back on Feb. 4, but outscored Edmondson, 43-25, over the final two quarters.

Edmondson, last year’s city champs, needs City to lose Friday and a victory over Carver Vo-Tech to advance back to the city finals. The Red Storm lost its first league Friday evening against No. 1 Patterson, on a late three-pointer by Aquille Carr, at Coppin State.