Despite Haughey's Heroics, Madison Boys Fall From Unbeatens

A 54-49 overtime loss at Chatham on Wednesday night marked the first time this season that the boys basketball team walked away from a game with a bad taste in their mouths. Not bad, considering the Dodgers had won eight straight before meeting up with their arch-rivals.

But this wasn't the team fans have become accustomed to seeing as the Dodgers saw this game, in which they held a six-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, quickly shift momentum as the Dodger offense went cold and the Cougar offense capitalized.

“I just think we kind of lost our identity at key moments in the game both offensively and defensively,” Madison head coach Bill Librera said. “It can’t all be on us. I think Chatham’s a quality team, obviously, and I think the world of [Todd Ervin] as a coach, but there was a reason that we got off to a good start this season and I think we kind of deviated a little from that.”

But with Chatham seemingly on its way to a win in regulation, Madison fought back to within striking distance until Sean Haughey's fourth three-pointer — this one with time expiring — sent the game into overtime.

But not even Haughey’s late-game heroics could not awaken the Madison offense, which was held to just one point in the overtime period.

For Chatham, Wednesday’s win was its eighth of the season and comes despite the Cougars missing Jonathan Berntsen and Sam Carson, both out of the lineup with injuries.

“I feel good. I thought we had it won in regulation and they banked a three, but it was a good win for us,” Ervin said after the game. “We’ve got a few injuries we’re trying to get through so the younger guys are stepping up.”

Scott Jouan finished with 15 points and Matt Gilbert added 11 for Madison (8-1).

Ervin commended his younger players — many of whom he explained haven’t seen much playing time — for rising to the occasion on Wednesday night.

“Tremendous effort from Robert Raiola, [he] played great,” Ervin said. “Luke Conrad played great, and Scott Baker too. Those are three guys that haven’t gotten that much playing time so they got the opportunity and they stepped up.”

Joe Timmes led the way on Wednesday, finishing with 13 points and 11 rebounds to lead a Cougar team that outscored Madison 26-15 in the final two frames.

Next up, both teams will play on Friday as Chatham goes for its ninth win of the season against Morris Catholic in Denville. Madison will look to bounce back as it hosts Morristown-Beard.