Edgewater heads to state final four

Edgewater’s boys basketball team is on a tear ripping through the regional playoffs, and the Eagles have arrived in the Lakeland Center with hopes of sinking their talons into Gainesville on Friday afternoon.

For a team that was taken out in the second round of regionals last year, the Eagles have already been overachieving on the court.

The Eagles (26-5) hosted Deltona (24-4) on Saturday in the regional championship game. Deltona walked onto Edgewater’s court having edged Lake Minneola 41-39. The Eagles had only just escaped Winter Haven with a 64-63 win of their own.

By the time the clock struck zero, the Eagles had a convincing 61-54 win on their hands and a championship trophy to hoist over their heads.

But midway through the third quarter, the Eagles were looking at the potential end to their season. Down 35-29 to Deltona, the Eagles only got back into the lead for good in the final three minutes of the game.

James Eads would lead the team with 21 points.

The Eagles will meet Gainesville (27-3) at the Lakeland Center for the state semifinal round. Gainesville just finished polishing off Wolfson with a 72-67 win on the road to grab their regional title.

The game tips off at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Lakeland Center.