BOWLER NABS FIRST CAREER WIN AGAINST RIVALS
Story by: Larry Jennings
Edgewood, OH – The Edgewood Warrior Gymnasium was electric on Wednesday evening as the Lakeside Dragons came to town for the basketball edition of the highly anticipated “Battle of the Bridge.” Known for their fierce rivalry in any sport, the two teams delivered a night of exhilarating action, leaving fans buzzing with excitement.
The evening tipped off with an intense junior varsity game, setting the stage for the main event. The JV Dragons claimed a dramatic 56-54 victory, seizing the lead for the first time with less than a minute remaining. The heart-pounding finish had the crowd eagerly awaiting the varsity clash.
In the varsity matchup, Edgewood’s Logan Mezak wasted no time igniting the Warriors’ offense, draining a three-pointer from the corner to open the scoring. Mezak’s sharpshooting proved pivotal, as he went on to hit four triples and lead all scorers with 19 points. Despite the strong start, the Dragons countered with a flurry of offense, ending the first quarter up 18-11.
The second quarter saw a resurgence from the Warriors, fueled by gritty defense and relentless effort. Edgewood outscored Lakeside 21-7 in the frame, transforming their deficit into a 32-25 halftime lead. The Warriors’ fans roared as their team headed into the locker room with momentum on their side.
After halftime, Lakeside refused to back down. The Dragons clawed their way back in the third quarter, with standout performances by Jarez Osborne, who poured in 11 of his team-high 15 points during the period. The back-and-forth battle brought the game to a 44-44 tie heading into the decisive fourth quarter.
In the final stretch, Edgewood’s composure at the free-throw line proved crucial. JJ DuFour and Mason Thorr stepped up under pressure, sinking key foul shots to edge the Warriors ahead. Despite Lakeside’s valiant efforts, including double-digit contributions from Jason Lopez and Luis Flores (11 points each), the Dragons fell short, 56-52.
The victory marked a significant milestone for Edgewood’s first-year head coach, Jay Bowler, as it was his first win as a high school head coach. Jay Bowler took over the program from his father, John Bowler, who retired after last season following a celebrated career with the Warriors.
Fans can hear Coach Jay Bowler reflect on this special moment and his team’s performance in an exclusive post-game interview attached below.
With the victory, Edgewood evens their record at 1-1. They will look to build on this momentum as they face the Jefferson Falcons on Saturday. Lakeside, now 0-2, will aim to regroup when they travel to take on the Madison Blue Streaks the same evening.
For fans in attendance, the “Battle of the Bridge” once again lived up to its reputation as one of the region’s most intense and entertaining rivalries.
