Donald Foster – WBONTV
Madison Central rolls to district Championship
Madison Southern entered the championship game as the defending 44th district champions. This time around the Eagles knew that they would be huge underdogs to a team that has been playing the best basketball in the entire state over the past month. For the Indians they come in much like the game against Berea in the opening round, facing the fact that they are a heavy favorite.
The game started with Chad Fugate drawing a foul against Dustin Gerald and knocking down two free throws. After that it was all Central as they go on a ten nothing run capped by three pointers from Isaiah Minter. Eagles tried to double Isaiah Cozart and did a good job of it early. Cozart got the final four points of the quarter and Indians led 16-7 after one. The second quarter Indians use a 10-2 to begin and push the lead out to 26-9. Indians take a 40-21 lead into the half. Minter had 15 in the first half to pace Madison Central, Fugate led the Eagles with 8. Madison Southern shot 6-23 in the half with seven turnovers. Indians knocked down three three pointers in the half.
Second half saw the Indians open on a 14 point run to push the lead out to 54-21. Things got ugly midway through the quarter when Tre McCreath delivered a hard foul on Jacori Miller resulting in his ejection from the game. After that the game lost it’s flow..both coaches emptied their bench once the game reached a 35 point lead. Central wins 74-40 and regain the district championship. For the Eagles Chad Fugate scored 10 points and 7 rebounds, Hunter Buchanan added 6, Samuel Lee with 6, Josh Reynolds and Tucker Adams had 5 points apiece, Tre McCreath with 4, Trent Moberly and Jonah Wooten with 2 each. For the Indians Isaiah Minter with 18 points, Jacori Miller 12 points, Dustin Gerald 9, Isaiah Cozart 10 points, Kenyon McKee 8, Tyler Crafton 6, Braeden Ray 6, Kole Brown and Caleb Patterson with 2 each, and Preston Roberts with 1. The 44th all tournament team consisted of Adam Lewis Durham and Will Feese of Model, Triston Duckworth and Zane Brown of Berea, Chad Fugate, Hunter Buchanan, and Shawn Short of Madison Southern, from the champion Indians Isiah Minter, Jacori Miller, Kenyon McKee an the MVP Dustin Gerald. Both teams advance to the 11th region tournament to be played at EKU next Wednesday and Thursday. Pairings will be announced Saturday on our various media platforms.
Lady Indians win the district Championship
Madison Central and Madison Southern met once again for a district championship. The last time the Lady Eagles won the district was 2015. That year they knocked the Lady Indians out in the opening round. They met back in January with the Eagles winning 54-47 at home.
This one started quick with the Southern getting the first basket but the lady Indians battled ahead 11-8. We were tied at 13 after a quarter of play. Second quarter Lady Eagles went inside and found success with back to back baskets from Aleigh Richardson. Madison Bernard answers that with a three pointer sparking a 7-0 run where they go back on top 20-17. Eagles cut the lead to three 26-23 with two minute left in the half but they go cold from the floor and don’t score again. With three seconds left Taleya Todd with a half court prayer that was answered and the Lady Indians take a six point lead into half. Todd led the way for Central with 10 points. Richardson with 10 for Madison Southern. Southern shot 3-15 from behind the three point line and the Lady Indians shot a great 52% from the floor.
The second half started with a Vanover basket pushing thelead out to eight, the largest of the game to this point. Samantha Cornelison held scoreless in the first half, 0-9 from the floor started the half with a three pointer to cut the lead to five. That shot sparked an 11-0 run to put Southern back on top 37-33. Cornelison with eight quick points in the third. Central answered that run with a 6-2 run to tie it up at 39 after three quarters. The fourth quarter Blaze Pacheco knocked down a trey to put Central on top by three and it would be nearly four minutes before either team could score again. An old fashioned three by Cornelison tied us up at 42. Je’Kauri McKeithen got a basket and a foul to put the Indians back on top. After a timeout Coach Summer Simmons drew a perfect play for Cornelison and she knocks down the three to tie the game at 45. Morgan Flannery got a steal after a timeout but she missed a layup and fouled Bailee Vanover putting her at the line where she knocks down one of two free throws to put them on top a point. Central knocked down their free throws late going 7-10 from the line to hold off the Lady Eagles and win their third straight district championships. For the Indians Todd finished with 13 points, Vanover has 15 points, 9 rebounds, McKeithen 11 points and 13 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots. Madison Barnard 9 points, and Blaze Pacheco with 3. For the Lady Eagles Cornelsion with 14 points and 9 rebounds, Sunni Walters 12 points, Richardson 10 points and 9 rebounds, Paige Carter 5, Madison Howell 2, Reece Estepp with 2. The 44th district all tournament team consisted of Peyton Erslan and McKenna Gullett of Model, Adrienna Beggs and Melissa Gosney of Berea, Taleya Todd, Madison Barnard, Mckeithen of Madison Central, and Aleigh Richardson, Sunni Walters, and Cornelison of Madison Southern. Bailee Vanover your MVP of the district.
Both teams advance to the regional to played next Monday and Tuesday here at EKU. Parings will be announced tomorrow morning here on WBONTV
