Believe it or not, the 4A IEL Regional Tournament is around the corner.

In preparation for the Bulldogs’ biggest games of the year, the Bee will highlight one (or two) Sandpoint girls basketball players every issue in the first-ever SHS Basketball Player-a-Day series

The countdown resumes with junior guard Izzo Edwards.

When recalling Sandpoint’s 38-34 comeback win over Lakeland, don’t forget the Hawks’ closing 9:32 field goal drought. Don’t forget Maddie Morgan’s threes, Dawson Driggs’s free throws and Natalie Petit shutting down Katie Ryan.

And don’t forget Izzo Edwards’s defense on Lakeland senior point guard Lauryn Cooper.

Edwards harassed Cooper and the Hawks all game. Even when Lakeland found its shots over Edwards, the Sandpoint junior’s key defensive rebounds kept Sandpoint in the game.

Clinging to a one-point lead 2:21 away from an outright IEL title, Cooper drove the baseline. Edwards impeded her progress, drew contact and — with the pinch of theatrics all charges require— hit the deck.

The official blew the whistle, paused a beat and made a fist towards the opposite basket.

Charge. Sandpoint ball. The Bulldog crowd erupted.

On the next play, Maddie Morgan’s third three of the night gave Sandpoint the lead for good. Who knows what would’ve unfolded if Edwards didn’t draw that charge.

Edwards finished with three points, five rebounds two assists and a slew of invaluable plays on defense that won the game — all without committing a single foul.

Performances like this weren’t out of the ordinary. Throughout the season, Edwards showed her defensive prowess, ranging from the aforementioned Lakeland performance, to her four-steal effort against Priest River on Jan. 26 and notching five steals and two assists while holding Bonners Ferry’s bucket-getter Holly Ansley to eight points.

Put Edwards on a team’s best guard, and they’d usually be in for a difficult night.

Game of note: vs. Lakeland

In Will Love’s words: “Izzo is a great leader who gives her all in practice and in games. I have a lot of respect for how hard she has worked this season to improve as a basketball player and her willingness to do what it takes to help the team.”