Edison Girls Top Mater Dei

Edison sophomore Bianca Ziemann showed her coach she’s a fast learner.

Saturday night’s lesson? Patience.

After rushing an off-balance jumper that could have won the game for the host Chargers in regulation, Ziemann tried a different approach two overtimes later, sinking a runner from eight feet to upset No. 3 Mater Dei, 64-62.

Edison Coach Dave White said he has been trying to get Ziemann and her sister, Racheal, to drive to the basket more often.

With eight seconds remaining in regulation, however, Ziemann picked up a loose ball and threw it awkwardly at the basket from about 20 feet, rather than collect herself and dribble in. Eight minutes later, she didn’t make the same mistake.

Ziemann’s driving, hanging one-hander broke a 62-62 tie. Mater Dei’s Kyra Melville launched a three-point shot at the buzzer, but it was short.

“That’s [Bianca] learning,” White said. “It’s not often you get a second chance like that in the same game.”

Ziemann said she knows she did something right, she’s just not sure what.

“I don’t even remember taking that [game-winning] shot,” she said. “I just know I was mad at myself when I rushed the first one.”

Ziemann finished with 19 points and Michelle Zylstra posted game highs with 24 points and 16 rebounds for the Chargers (10-7), ranked No. 7 in the county.

Maile Shimoda--who missed a free throw that could have put the Monarchs ahead with three seconds left in the first overtime--and Lindsay Pavlik led Mater Dei (13-3) with 18 points each.