The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Madison has showdown against McGraw
MADISON, N.Y. » Madison handed McGrawits loss first of the season on Tuesday, surviving a late comeback attempt to take a 56-44 victory and move atop the Central Counties League standings.
After trailing throughout the majority of the contest, McGraw closed to within six points, 48-42, on a Maurice Peterson 3-pointer with 3:24 left in the fourth quarter
he Eagles had an opportunity to cut into the lead even further, but Chris Pickert was unable to keep his feet after snatching a defensive board, giving Madison the ball with 2:45 remaining in the contest. Following a Madison timeout, the Blue Devils used an-out-of-bounds play to free Alex Cotter for a wide open bucket and a 50-42 lead.
Blue Devil coach Dan Mitchell’s message to his team during the timeout was to control the tempo.
“Calm down, and if we didn’t have a fast break layup, just slow it down, run the offense, use some clock,” Mitchell said of his instructions. “Secure the boards, get up on shooters.”
After a McGraw miss, Peterson fouled out, sending Madison’s Sam Matteson to the line where he knocked down both shots to increase. the Blue Devil lead to ten, 52-42.
Evan Ignatowski converted a one of two free throws on McGraw’s next possession to trim the lead back to single digits, but Colton Stone drilled his second 3-pointer of the night with 1:40 left on the clock to put the con--
test out of reach.
McGraw was unable to extend the game on the line as the Blue Devils held on for their second win in four nights.
Matteson recorded a game-high 18 points to go with eight boards and three blocks. Colton Stone followed with 15 points, six boards and four assists while running the show for the Blue Devils at point. Spencer Haviland and Ethan Snyder led Madison with six and five assists respectively in an active Blue Devil offense.
Peterson, 14, and Evan Ignatowski, 11, paced Brookfield in scoring.
Coming into Monday’s contest, McGraw had posted six straight victories, running off consecutive wins against league opponents Otselic Valley, DeRuyter, Cincinnatus, and Brookfield to earn a No. 10 ranking in Class D basketball.
“Obviously, a win feels really good,” Mitchell said. “They’re a good team. CoachMattMartins runs a really good program. They are strong every year. It took several years before we could beat them since I’ve been here, but we just have to keep it going from here.
A full-court pressure defense propelled Madison, ranked behind McGraw at No. 19 heading into the contest, to a 29-21 lead heading into the halftime intermission.
The Blue Devils used a 10-2 run at the beginning of the third quarter to take control of the contest. Haviland found space in the lane for a quick two points, followed by a Matteson lay-in to increase the lead to 33-21. Following a Pickert lay-up, McGraw earned a technical foul on Madison’s next of- fensive possession, sending Stone to the charity stripe, where he knocked down one of two. After the technical, Matteson found Stone open behind the arc for a three and a 39-23 Madison lead.
Brookfield responded with five quick points, but Mat teson scored again from the paint, and Ethan Snyder found Eric Eaton on a nice feed moments later to push Madison’s lead back up to 4328. Ignatowski converted two foul shots for Brookfield to close the quarter, but Madison would carry a 43-31 lead into the final quarter.
With the win, Madison improves to 2-0 in league play and 4-1 on the season. The Blue Devils will host league opponent Cincinnatus on Thursday.
McGraw falls to 4-1 in CCL play and 6-1 on the season. The Eagles will look to get back on track at home against Marathon on Thursday.