Edison boys’ basketball edges Los Alamitos in overtime for second outright league title
The Edison High boys’ basketball team plays unselfishly.
When it came to winning an outright Surf League title on Thursday night, though, the Chargers definitely wanted to be selfish.
For the record:
4:38 p.m. Feb. 7, 2022This story has been updated to reflect that this year’s title is Edison’s second outright league title. The first came in the 1981-82 season.
It wasn’t easy, but they got it done. Senior forward Trey Wilborn scored 23 points as Edison beat Los Alamitos in overtime, 71-65, to finish off its first undefeated league campaign.
It is the second outright league title in program history, joining the 1981-82 team.
“We just have great kids who buy into what we ask them to do,” Edison coach Rich Boyce said. “Wow, what a year. It’s been a fun year, and we have fun every day at practice. It’s not a grind, it’s always fun and we look forward to it. I’m blessed, I really am.”
Senior forward Tyler Hampton had 19 points, including four three-pointers, for Edison (24-4, 6-0 in league). Junior guard Dylan Hugues added 12 points and sophomore guard Kaz Hampton scored nine, on a trio of three-pointers.
Hampton, a three-sport athlete who also excelled as a football receiver and is a high jumper, said beating Los Alamitos twice in the same season was definitely significant.
“That’s always a huge accomplishment,” he said. “In all my other sports like football and track and stuff, Los Al is always the top competition. The same in basketball, so it’s good being on top. Everyone just plays together. We all have a lot of chemistry, a lot of fire, a lot of passion. We really wanted this, and we came out on top.”
Neither team had a double-digit lead all night, but Edison seemed to trail Los Alamitos (21-6, 4-2) much of the night. Wilborn made a deep three-pointer with 1:15 left in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 61-61, the last points of regulation.
In overtime, the Chargers went up four as Wilborn hit two free throws and Hampton got a steal and lay-up. But Los Al’s Daniel Mellgoza responded with a three-pointer. Christian Bermudez, who led Los Al with 18 points, then hit a free throw to tie the score at 65-65 with 1:53 left.
The visitors would not score again, and Edison made seven of its nine free throws in overtime to seal the victory. Boyce called Wilborn a unique high school talent with his inside-outside game.
“He’s tough to guard,” Boyce said. “When he’s on like he was today, I don’t think there’s anybody better. He’s got to be one of the top five kids in the county.”
Edison, ranked No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division 2A, hopes for a deep playoff run as well. The Chargers have won 19 of their last 20 games.
Wilborn said it felt good to finish off the undefeated league run.
“It’s a really big accomplishment,” he said. “We just have great chemistry. Our chemistry is through the roof.”
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Surf League
Edison 71, Los Alamitos 65 (OT)
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Los Al 20 – 15 – 12 – 14 – 4 — 65
Edison 16 – 14 – 18 – 13 – 10— 71
Los Al — Bermudez 18, Mellgoza 16, Griset 10, Matthews 9, Monson 6, Kent 4, Petroff 2.
3-pt. goals — Bermudez 3, Mellgoza 2, Monson 2, Matthews 1.
Fouled out — Bermudez.
Technicals — None.
Edison — Wilborn 23, T. Hampton 19, Hugues 12, K. Hampton 9, Evans 5, Delaney 3.
3-pt. goals — Wilborn 4, T. Hampton 4, K. Hampton 3, Evans 1.
Fouled out — None.
Technicals — None.
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