EDWARDSBURG — Keith Kurowski has built an identity for Sturgis High School boys basketball in his five years as head coach.

The Trojans succeed with defense, rebounding and toughness.

Those qualities were on display Monday night in a 54-39 win against Edwardsburg in the first game of the Class B Edwardsburg District.

Chance Stewart, a junior who has verbally committed to play quarterback at the University of Wisconsin, muscled for a career-high 32 points to go with 21 rebounds and Sturgis (12-8) held the Eddies (15-6) to 11 of 48 shooting from the floor, including 8 of 29 in the second half, in earning the right to play Paw Paw (11-9) in the second semifinal on Wednesday, March 6. The first game at 6 p.m. pits Three Rivers (5-15) against Vicksburg (12-8). The district final is slated for 7 p.m. on Friday, March 8.

“You’ve got to stop people before you can be good,” said Kurowski, who watched his team hold Edwardsburg to a season-low point total and 23 below the Eddies’ average.

In a rough-and-tumble game, Edwardsburg senior and Central Michigan University signee Josh Kozinski was held to 10 points — 13 under his average.

“There was a lot of physical contact,” said Edwardsburg coach Dan Gunn. “That’s the way the game was called.”

A 9-0 third-quarter run helped Sturgis break open a close game.



Class B Edwardsburg District

Quarterfinals

Sturgis 54, Edwardsburg 39

Edwardsburg — Eric Richardson 1-6 0-0 3, Patrick Harvey 1-6 4-4 6, Matt Griesinger 2-3 0-0 4, Josh Kozinski 3-14 3-4 10, Jason Schimpa 1-5 2-2 4, Dylan Hulett 0-4 2-3 2, Dante Razzano 3-10 2-4 8, Joe Queener 0-0 0-0 0, Grant Szalewski 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 11-48 (.229) 15-19 (.789) 39.

Sturgis — Chance Stewart 9-18 14-17 32, Eduardo Portillo 3-3 0-0 6, Carl Limburg 1-2 1-2 3, Tyler Bennett 1-1 0-0 2, Patrick Haas 1-4 2-2 5, Jalen Cox 2-10 0-0 4, Jack Scheske 1-1 0-0 2, Tyler Ater 0-0 0-0 0, Nick Rehm 0-0 0-0 0, Kerry Vaughn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-39 (.461) 17-21 (.809) 54.

Scoring By Quarters

Edwardsburg 4 10 12 13 — 39

Sturgis 12 7 13 22 — 54

3-point goals: Edwardsburg (2-27) — Richardson 1-4, Kozinski 1-8; Sturgis (1-6) — Haas 1-2.

Rebounds: Edwardsburg (25) — Harvey 5, Gaideski 5; Sturgis (40) — Stewart 21, Haas 5.

Turnovers: Edwardsburg 14, Sturgis 19.

Fouls: Edwardsburg 19, Sturgis 15. Fouled out — Bennett (1:58, fourth quarter).

Officials: Fred Fenrick, Terry Fosdick, Bryan Wild.

Records: Sturgis 12-8, Edwardsburg 15-6.

Next: Three Rivers vs. Vicksburg, Paw Paw vs. Sturgis, Wednesday, March 6, in semifinals of Class B Edwardsburg District, 6 p.m. and following.