Teen from Larry Bird’s high school breaks NBA legend’s long-standing record

FRENCH LICK, Ind. (WAVE/Gray News) - Can you imagine breaking a scoring record previously held by one of the greatest basketball players of all time? Well, a high school player from Larry Bird’s alma mater did just that.

There was nobody better than Larry Bird at Springs Valley High School until this past weekend.

While records were made to be broken, Bird’s legendary 55-point single game mark seemed nearly untouchable until Deion Edwards took the court Saturday against Austin High.

“For that record to go down, it meant a lot as a community as a whole,” Springs Valley High School head basketball coach Jonathon Bowles said. “That record lasted for 50 years.”

“I started the game hot,” Edwards said. “Hit two threes and then got to the fourth quarter. It was so close. I just had to keep scoring, just trying to win the game.”

A day after an overtime victory over West Washington, the Blackhawks found themselves in a similar situation, trailing by two late in overtime, with Edwards already posting 53. With under two minutes to play, Edwards knocked down a shot and drew a foul, tying the game at 96 and tying Bird’s single-game record.

“He did hit two threes, but other than that, he was getting to the rim,” Bowles said.

Edwards sank the biggest free throw of his life to secure the school’s record for most points in a single game with 56, all while Larry Bird’s brother Eddie was in attendance.

Edwards found out about his historic feat after his team finished the game with a 101-98 win over Austin.

“I didn’t know for sure, but I was kind of thinking because my mom was in the background jumping up, saying, ‘Hit the free throw, hit the free throw, hit the free throw,’” he said.

“There are a lot of guys talking about playing with Larry Bird,” Bowles said. “These guys will be able to say we played with Deion, who actually has the single game record.”

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