Althoff’s Brown returns just in time for state title run

The first of two blemishes on the state-bound Althoff Crusaders’ record came Nov. 24, while nine of 15 players on their roster were in DeKalb preparing a Class 2A state football championship.

All of them, including the four starters, returned in time to run off a streak of 29 wins against just one more loss.

All of them, that is, except junior Edwyn Brown.

Brown made himself a valuable part of a seven-man Crusaders rotation during their 2015 bid to bring Belleville its first state basketball championship. But he injured his foot in the state football championship game Nov. 27, delaying his basketball debut until Tuesday in the super-sectional win at Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield.

In seven minutes, Brown contributed a steal, a blocked shot and one of Althoff’s 10 3-pointers in a 83-69 dismantling of Springfield Southeast.

The Crusaders will take their next step toward a state title Friday against Westchester St. Joseph in the semifinals of the Class 3A State Tournament. Brown will be dressed and ready to go.

“My legs feel fresh, just like brand new — I’m 100 percent,” Brown said. “My conditioning could always be a little better, but when I’m out playing my adrenaline gets flowing.”

Still, watching his teammates roll toward a title from the sideline has been hard on the guard, especially as he endured months of painful physical therapy. It was hard on his coach, too, who said Brown figured to play a more vital role than he did as a sophomore last season.

Brown appeared in 30 games last season, averaging 2.4 points to go with 40 assists and 36 steals. He said he “averaged, I think, about a double-double” during summer AAU basketball.

“The way his game was progressing and the great summer he had, he was a guy to contend for being possibly even a starter,” said Althoff coach Greg Leib. “It was a tough situation for him because he couldn’t get out there and compete. It was tough for me because we expected him to be a really good player for us.”

All was derailed, though, when during the sixth play of the state football championship game, Brown felt a pop in his foot. The initial consensus was that it was broken, but second and third opinions confirmed a torn ligament that required surgery.

“I was backpedaling and when I stepped forward I felt it,” said Brown, who was among St. Louis-area leaders with six pass interceptions.

The operation was scheduled shortly thereafter and he was given a recovery schedule of four to six months, which would have forced him to miss the entire season.

“The therapy was grueling, especially the first week. They made me balance on one foot and jump on one foot,” he said. “But I got it done in less than three months. They sped things up because they knew I was motivated to get back. They believed I could do it and so I did, too.”

Westchester St. Joseph coach Gene Pingatore said Wednesday during a conference call with coaches of the 3A and 4A state finalists that the biggest challenge he faces in preparing for Althoff is stopping its depth of talented athletes.

Brown’s return will only make that challenge bigger.

“He’s another guy they’ll have to deal with,” said junior guard Jordan Goodwin, the Crusaders’ top scorer. “The team is glad to have him back because of that, but also because he just brings some more energy to the team.”

Whatever his role may be this weekend, Brown said he’s just glad to back in uniform.

“It was hard being out and watching, but the guys have my back and they know I’ll have theirs,” he said. “It’s our goal to win state and I’m looking forward to going back up and being a part of it.”

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 9:23 PM with the headline "Althoff’s Brown returns just in time for state title run."