By Bob Hamar
bob.hamar@theindependent.com

Four starters were gone, but Shavontae Samuels returned.

Samuels, a 6-foot senior, has come through big for the Beavers (20-3). He's averaging 27.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game going into Thursday's first-round Class D-2 state tournament against top-seeded Pleasanton (22-1).

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Lincoln East High School.

"I've been really excited with how we've come together," St. Edward coach Aaron Martin said. "Shavontae has come up big scoring. They've thrown junk defenses at him to try and slow him down.

"We knew he probably would be our biggest scorer, but he also does a good job of getting some of the role players in position to be productive with the ball."

Zach Tharnish, a 6-4 senior, has stepped in to average 11 points per game while 6-4 senior James Spath averages 10.5 per game.

"We've had some players step up that weren't big last year and that really helped us," Martin said. "James Spath and Zach Tharnish stepped up into scoring roles. James had 22 in the district final.

"Justin Fitchner hit a big 3-pointer for us in overtime."

Spath's value to the team was evident when he missed four games just after the Christmas break, and the Beavers lost two of them.

"He kind of gives us more of an inside presence," Martin said of Spath. "The others are good defensively and good on the boards, but they're not big scoring threats."

Those players like Spath, Tharnish, Fitchner didn't play a big role a year ago, but they were at the state tournament soaking in the atmosphere.

"Obviously they're not seasoned veterans having not been on the court last year," Martin said. "But they had the experience of being down there and with the atmosphere. Hopefully we'll have the jitters out of our system a little bit earlier."

The Beavers will need to be ready against a Pleasanton team whose only loss this season came to Class C-2 No. 1-ranked Ravenna.

The Bulldogs are led by 6-7 senior center Elijah Zwiener, who averages 15.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Seniors Kyle Griffin (10.2 ppg) and Jordan Axmann (10.1 ppg) also average in double figures.

"They're tough," Martin said of the Bulldogs. "We've heard plenty about them. They were one of the favorites along with Ewing going into the season.

"They have a big kid in Zwiener who will be tough. They also have good shooting guards and good athletes one through five. They will definitely be a tough match up for us."

Last year the Beavers had to rely on a wild card berth to make it to the state tournament. This year, they knew there would be no second chance. Their only chance was to win the district title.

Martin said that may have helped them this season.

"Last year, knowing in the back of our minds that we were going to go even if it was unintentional there was just a little less to play for," Martin said. "Obviously you don't ever want to lose. This year we knew we had to win or go home and that put a sense of urgency into our practices and into the game."

St. Edward (20-3)

Player H Y PPG RPG

Zachary Haas 6-1 Sr. 11.6 2.5

Shavontae Samuels 6-0 Sr. 27.4 10.8

Christian Spath 6-0 So. 0.3 0.2

Darian Wills 5-6 Jr. 0.0 0.3

Landon Hemmer 6-1 So. 0.1 0.1

Zachary Tharnish 6-4 Sr. 11.1 6.2

James Spath 6-4 Sr. 10.8 7.1

Justin Fitchner 5-10 Sr. 7.0 3.6

Kasten Cruise 5-10 Jr. 1.7 1.2

Austin Olson 5-10 Sr. 1.7 1.8

Head coach: Aaron Martin

Assistant coach: Ryan Wills

NSAA enrollment: 43

Conference: Goldenrod

State appearances: 14

Most recent: 2007

State championship years: D-2/2007

State runner-up years: H/1921, I/1923