The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Madison heads back to sectional final
SYRACUSE, N.Y. » A forty-point victory. A 1,000 point scorer. A chance to defend the Section III Class D crown at the Carrier Dome.
It was an impressive Saturday for the Madison boys hoops side.
DanMitchell’s No. 3 Blue Devils were out running early and often during an 86-46 drubbing of No. 2 Oriskany in the Class D semifinals at Onondaga Community College on Saturday.
“We’re good when we run. As long as we can defend and then push, we have success,” Mitchell said.
SpencerHaviland poured in a game-high 26 points to go with eight boards and five steals; Colton Stone broke out of a selfdescribed shooting slump to follow with 24 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists; and Sam Matteson added a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds for New York State Sportswriters Association No. 12 Blue Devils.
For Haviland, the win was especially sweet. The Blue Devil senior netted his 1,000th career point on a wing 3-pointer midway through the third frame.
“It’s great. I couldn’t do it without my teammates. They are the most important part, passme the ball and getme open shots,” Haviland said. “I cannot thank the coaches enough. They were there every step of the way; my parents were, too,” Haviland said of the milestone.”
“Incredible worker, incredible work ethic,” added Mitchell of his second 1,000-point scorer - Matteson joined the 1K Club during the 2016-17 season - said. “He comes every day to practice to work hard. He stays late after practice every single day for 15 to 30minutes to shoot...if I open the gym he is there.”
Richard Phelps netted 13 points to pace state-ranked No.
20 Oriskany in the loss.
Madison opened the contest on an 8-2 run, capped by a Haviland offensive rebound and put-back three minutes into the first. Following an Oriskany timeout, the No. 2 seed was able to keep pace with the Blue Devils the rest of the way, trailing by seven, 19-12, at the end of one.
Madison closed the half on a 13-6 run courtesy of Stone’s hot shooting. On back-to-back Madison possessions, Haviland found Stone open to knock down a shot from beyond the arc to push its first half lead to 36-18. Cal Pianka answered for Oriskany with a corner 3-pointer with 1:27 left to pull Oriskany within 15, but Stone came right back with his third 3-pointer in response.
“I had a tough shooting streak for the past couple of games, so when I finally got one to fall, they kept on falling. I got my form back,” Stone said, before adding, “We are a different team when we run. When we are out there running, everything opens things up.
Not to be outdone, Pianca net ted another 3- ball. The Blue Devils closed the second frame on an Ethan Snyder bank shot from the line and Matteson threw a fullcourt toss, hitting Stone in stride for a lay-up and a 43-24 halftime lead.
The Blue Devils picked up right were they left off in the third. Stone buried another shot from distance at the 6-minute mark to extend the lead to 49-27 before an Aaron Warcup hoop pulled Oriskany to within 18 at 49-31. Madison, though, with its fullcourt press and half-court trap, continued to give the Oriskany offense fits, posting 13 steals and holding their opponents to 22 second half points.
“The length, I think, rattles them a little bit at the top of the zone, but I have some beasts down low as well that box and rebound. The guards rebound well, too,” Mitchell said of his team’s defensive effort.
Later in the third, Madison went up 59-35 on a pair of Matteson free throws. With a healthy second half lead, Haviland netted a leftwing 3-pointer for Madison’s last score of the quarter and his 1,000th career point. Mitchell called a timeout to allow Madison fans a chance to celebrate Haviland’s accomplishment while his teammates mobbed himat center court. One of the first teammates to findHavilandwasMatteson, who earlier this season became the Blue Devil’s alltime leading scorer.
“You don’t see many schools with two players that score over 1,000 points in their career. Spencer has been one of my best friends since we were young, so being able to grow up together and for both of us to achieve that accomplishment is amazing.” Matteson said.
The Blue Devils cruised the rest of the way, earning an 86-46 win and the opportunity take on No. 4 seed, and fellow Central Counties League side, McGraw in the Class D championship for a rematch of last years final.
“It’s awesome. We did it last year, and we’re playing the same team this year: McGraw,” Haviland said. “So, they’re going to come out looking for revenge. We just have to come out and play our game.”
AddedMatteson, “It’s not just the winning, it’s the success of the team, too.”