RICHMOND — There’s nothing worse than going cold in a state tournament game. Yet while Madison County had to bite its lip and work its way through a long shooting day, they were able to take of business behind their defense and earn a trip to the Group A, Division 1 championship with their 51-38 victory over Castlewood at the Siegel Center Thursday afternoon.
“We were really solid defensively in the second half,” said Mountaineers coach Ben Breeden. “That’s what got us going because I think they out-rebounded us in the first half and that’s not something that usually happens to us.”
Behind Jerel Carter and Logan Terrell, the Mountaineers worked their way out front by seven points in the first quarter, but in the opening minutes of the second, Castlewood went on an 8-2 run to get within one as Madison struggled mightily from the floor and free-throw line.
“That second quarter we couldn’t make anything and we had good matchups inside but didn’t get them the ball,” Breeden said. “I think we corrected that in the second half.”
In the opening minute of the third quarter, the Blue Devils tied the game, but Madison would get back out by double-digits on an 11-0 run highlighted by a dunk by David Falk that was set up by an off the backboard pass from Jerel Carter.
“We just had to get the crowd into it and get the momentum going in our favor,” Carter explained of his decision to let Falk finish the play when he had an easy opportunity to do it himself. “Coach told me it was a dumb thing to do, but I felt like I was the right thing for the moment.”
There were plenty of fans to rally as the Madison faithful rode to Richmond in bus loads. And with the rabid fan base creating a commotion, Castlewood called a timeout after the play, the run continued nonetheless.
“We warned the kids that (Madison) is a third quarter team and they like to come out and put the game away,” said Blue Devils coach Wayne Rasnick. “And they did it again. The third quarter, that’s when the ball game was over.”
Having out-rebounded Madison 15-13 in the first half, things changed in the second as the Mountaineer forwards gave them back the edge at the end of the day, 35-32.
The Mountaineers held a 10-point lead for the first half of the fourth quarter, but as the Madison shooters cooled off once again, Castlewood was able to trim the deficit down to six points with two-and-a-half minutes to play. However, they would get no closer, as the with the clock winding down, the Blue Devils were forced to foul, and although the Mountaineers shot just 40 percent at charity stripe as a team, Castlewood could not capitalize on the opportunities.
The Blue Devils were held to single digits in three of four quarters, reaching double-figures just once with their 11 points in the first. Carter and fellow senior Casey Campbell fueled the defensive effort, accounting for eight of their team’s eleven steals.
“This is the first time we’ve played a team that’s come out and spread the floor and tried to back-door cut us,” Breeden said. “It took us some time to figure out how to adjust.”
Terrell led the Mountaineers with 14 points while Falk and Carter each finished with nine. Falk led all rebounders by hauling in 12 boards, five of which were on the offensive glass. Carter and Campbell had six and five respective assists.
And much to their delight, Madison won’t have to wait long to take the court again. They will look to earn the schools first state title since 1977 on Friday at 3:45 p.m., and for the vast majority of the roster it will be the last high school game of their careers.
“Between the state (quarterfinals) and the regional game we had to wait a week and we were sitting in school and practicing and it just dragged on,” Falk said. “But (the championship) is here and it’s tomorrow. We’re ready.”
