Madison Boys Basketball Rolls to 11-0

The Madison High School boys basketball team trounced the Dover Tigers on Friday night, 49-26, improving to a perfect 11-0 on the season.

The win was truly a team effort, with nine Dodgers making at least one shot and pulling down at least one rebound.

The Dodgers did not go into the game against their 1-11 opponents thinking they had already secured a win.

"Dover seemed like a good team," said Dodger starter Matt Gilbert, "In practice we focused on who we had to crack-down on, and we covered them well tonight."

Madison's defense seemed impenetrable throughout most of the game, allowing Dover very few points until the fourth quarter. Although Dover struck first and scored immediately after the tip-off, the Dodgers defense clamped down and did not allow the Tigers another point until the score was 15-2.

By the end of the first quarter, Madison had improved its lead to 20-5. All five starters for the Dodgers, as well as two players off the bench, already had at least one rebound each going into the second quarter.

Madison was not only pulling down rebounds, but stealing the ball effectively and not allowing Dover any good shots.

"We emphasize defense every night and we need to keep focusing on defense to keep up our success," said Jake Meister, who scored eight for the Dodgers and led the team in rebounds, with six, and assists, with two.

Madison outscored Dover in the second quarter, 10-5, bringing the score to 30-9 at the half. Miles Singletary led Dover in scoring going into the third quarter, with five, while Gilbert led for the Dodgers with 10.

In the third quarter, Robbie Savacool and Mike Haughey both sunk three-pointers to help the Dodgers improve their lead going into the fourth.

Most of Madison's starters did not play in the fourth quarter, but the backups were playing hard. After Kyle Joshy of Dover rejected a Dodger shot and brought the Tigers crowd to their feet, Quawee Harris of Madison answered on the next play with a rejection of his own, revving up the Madison crowd and bench.

Gilbert led in scoring for either team with 10, the same amount he had scored by halftime. Meister had eight points for the Dodgers, which he had also scored by halftime, and which was more than anyone on Dover scored in the entire game.

With the Dodgers' win against Dover, they remain undefeated going into a Saturday night game against their county rivals from Group III, Morris Hills. Madison, a Group II team, stands to earn respect and a potentially higher seed in the Morris County Tournament with a win. Not to mention, every team that the Dodgers face wants to be the team that ends their undefeated season.

"Where we are right now, everyone wants to play us," said Dodgers head coach Bill Librera. "But no matter who we play or where we play, we want to play the brand of basketball that we preach."

The game against Morris Hills will take place at Madison High School on Saturday night at 7. The Dodgers will need to overcome the 6-6 team to remain perfect.