When the Emporia State men needed a basket or a rebound on Saturday in their four-overtime 102-100 victory at Pittsburg State, Lamar Wilbern delivered. The same could be said for the ESU women and Ida Edwards in a two-point win in Pittsburg.
Both had career games and both were named MIAA athlete of the week on Monday.
Wilbern averaged 22 points and 10.5 rebounds in two games last week. He had 17 points and five rebounds against No. 12 Missouri Southern in a 71-66 win. He scored a career-high 27 points and had a career-high 16 rebounds in the win in Pittsburg.
Even more impressive than Wilbern’s numbers was the fact that he played through cramps. He also helped put the game away, going 4-for-4 at the free throw line in the final OT, including the go-ahead points.
“He’s huge,” ESU coach David Moe said after Saturday’s win. “He’s always been our most competitive guy. There’s no question he’s our most competitive guy. He missed some free throws or might have missed something in one of the overtimes. I know he missed a little 10 footer that he’s usually automatic on. But his defense was great down the stretch.
“And then the rebounding, we need him to step up and get rebounds. We had a small team in there and he’s got to step up and get big rebounds for us. ... Every time the game was on the line, we had to go to Lamar and he could make a strong move and go over somebody and free it up for somebody to get an offensive rebound if he does miss.”
Edwards averaged 18 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks last week, helping the Lady Hornets gain sole possession of first place in the MIAA with a home win over Missouri Southern and a win at Pittsburg State. She had a career-high four blocks against the Lions.
The Gorillas entered Saturday’s game with only one league loss, and Edwards carried her team early, scoring 14 points in the first half and going a perfect 7-for-7 from the field and 1-for-1 at the free throw line. She finished with her sixth double-double of the season, scoring 21 points and pulling down 14 rebounds. Her final rebound led to the game-winning basket.
For Edwards, it is the second time this season she has been named the MIAA athlete of the week and the fourth time a Lady Hornet has won the award. Wilbern is the first player to win the award this year for the ESU men.