BEAR RIVER GIRLS HOOPS STATE PREVIEW - USC BOUND EDELMAN

The Bear River Lady Bruins are the only Pioneer Valley League Girls basketball team left standing. Colfax lost 52-40 to Marin Catholic while Placer fell at Campolindo 62-47 both first round losses in the CIF State basketball tournament.

Bear River will host Menlo of Atherton on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Lady Knights hold an overall record of 21-9 on the season and finished in third place in the West Bay - Foothill league at 6-4. This team can score with the best of team averaging 54 points a game while giving up 42. Menlo blew-out  Moreau Catholic in their first round game 55-40 and at the end of the third quarter they led 50-25.

This home contest for the Lady Bruins will be a challenge as well as a real treat for girls basketball fans. Menlo has a bonified center who stands 6-foot-4 who will play for USC next season.

Drew Edelman has averaged 20 points and 13 boards per contest include the section semi-final and championship game which they won by delivering 30 points 24 boards and 23 points with 22 boards respectively.

 From USC's website- A 6-4 post player, Drew Edelman hails from Atherton, Calif., as a standout player from Menlo School under coach John Paye. Ranked No. 41 in the nation at her position, Edelman played club for East Bay Xplosion under coach Mark Anger.

"Drew is a physical low block presence that we were searching for to add to our Trojan Family," Cooper said of Edelman. "She is a great defender who will provide a great paint presence for us and make it very difficult for opponents to get to the rim. Offensively she has great hands, which gives her the ability to score at the rim with both hands. She runs the floor hard and is a great rebounder. In addition to all of this, she is an exceptional student, and a wonderful person who we are so proud to welcome to the Trojan Family!"

As many Lady Bruin loyalists know Kaitlyn Reina the teams leading scorer went down with a ankle injury this past week while playing in the section final at Sleep Train in Sacramento. If Reina is not 100% then Bear River is in for a tough home stand. But if the junior is good to go then Reina's speed and athleticism will keep the home team close.

The Lady Bruins are fast and like to push the action which could keep the future Trojan between the foul lines as well as winded. This is a classic match up between a speed team and a slow it down and execute in the half court set.

Edelman is not the first Pac-10 player to step on the court at Bear River High School, you may recall a few years back when Reeves Nelson of UCLA played for Modesto Christian and knocked out a Patrick Scott led team in front of a packed house.

It doesn't happen very often that a D-1 recruit plays here in the foothills so if you are interested in seeing one of the top players in California play then the tip is at 7 on Saturday.