PLYMOUTH — One 1,000-point scorer is a blessing. Two could be considered an embarrassment of riches.
When they are both juniors, well, it’s almost impossible to grasp.
Plymouth’s Tyson Beebe scored 23 points and Tyrell Edmiston added 17 as the Big Red rolled to a 70-51 win over visiting Crestview on Friday.
Both Beebe and Edmiston are juniors and both are quickly closing in on 1,000 career points. Beebe now has 975, while Edmiston stands at 972.
“It’s crazy. It’s just crazy,” Plymouth coach Troy Keene said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of it happening before, with two juniors almost dead even like that.
“We would love for them both to get to 1,000 in the same game. In a perfect world, it would happen on back-to-back baskets.”
That moment will likely come sooner than later. The Big Red (14-2, 10-1) host Bellevue on Monday before welcoming Seneca East to town on Tuesday. Considering both Beebe and Edmiston average about 20 points a game, the milestone is just around the corner.
“I haven’t even thought about it, to tell you the truth. If I get it, I get it” said Edmiston, who added 13 rebounds, seven blocked shots and six assists Friday evening. “It would be pretty cool if it happened on the same night, two teammates getting 1,000 points in the same game. Especially if they are both juniors.”
As for Friday’s game, the outcome was never really in doubt. Crestview (6-8, 5-4) kept it close into the second quarter before Plymouth dropped the hammer. Parlayed by a 12-0 run late in the first half, the Big Red turned a 24-23 lead into a 38-26 halftime advantage.
“That’s our M.O.,” Keene said. “We either start fast and let teams back in it at the end or start slow and put teams away in the end of the game and tonight we started slow.
“Coming out at halftime, I really challenged my kids to pick up the intensity at the defensive end of the floor. I thought they did a great job of that.
“We picked up the intensity and outrebounded them. Those were the two biggest things.”
The Big Red owned a 36-18 advantage on the glass.
“Our biggest thing is we have got to keep teams off the boards,” first-year Crestview coach Bryan Hall said. “If we box out and limit teams to one shot, it puts us in a position to win a lot of games.
“At our end, we are one-and-done. That puts us in a tough situation.”
Plymouth outscored Crestview 21-12 in the third quarter to all but put the game away. The Big Red took a 59-38 lead to the fourth quarter.
While Beebe and Edmiston shouldered a bulk of the scoring load, they had plenty of help. Dodge Collins connected on three 3-pointers and had nine points, while Hunter Bailey drained a pair of treys and had eight points.
Edmiston played the role of facilitator for much of the second half, consistently finding open teammates for uncontested layups and wide open jumpers.
“I take a lot of pride in my passing,” Edmiston said. “My friends tell me I should score a lot more, but I like getting my teammates involved. We’re going to need contributions from everyone as we get into the tournament.”
The Big Red were 26-for-53 from the floor and drained nine 3-pointers.
“Our other kids are learning to cut without the basketball and when Tyrell is finding those kids, that’s when we are dangerous,” Keene said. “Tyson’s strength is moving without the basketball and he has turned himself into a pretty good outside shooter.”
Crestview was led by 6-foot-6 junior slasher Ben Olewiler, who scored 13 points. Bryan Hissong, a 6-foot-7 senior added seven points, while Bryce Lutz chipped in with six.
“I’m happy with where we are at, but I hope the guys don’t settle with where we are at,” Hall said. “We are in a position to finish in the top half of the conference and we need to keep getting better as we get closer to tournament time.”
In junior varsity action, Crestview rolled to a 40-28 win behind 12 points from Carson Chronister. Mitchell Chaffins led Plymouth with 10 points.
The Cougars visit Monroeville today before hosting Western Reserve on Tuesday.
“I take a lot of pride in my passing,” Edmiston said. “My friends tell me I should score a lot more, but I like getting my teammates involved. We’re going to need contributions from everyone as we get into the tournament.”
