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Schools

Preview: Boys Hoops Hope to Keep Winning

New Dodgers starters look to step up after back-to-back state runs.

The  boys basketball team is ready to begin the season despite losing three of its starters, each with at least three years of varsity experience, to graduation following the 2010 season.

OVERVIEW
The Dodgers will hope that their younger players can step up as they look to get back to the NJSIAA North 2, Group II State Sectional Tournament. Madison head coach Bill Librera is confident that his team has the talent to step up and be competitive this season.

LAST SEASON'S RESULTS
Madison finished with a record of 17-7, falling in the state sectional semifinals to Ridgefield Park, 54-53. The Dodgers also made a run to the quarterfinals of the Morris County Tournament before losing to Delbarton, 55-44.

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KEEP YOUR EYE ON

  • Matt Gilbert, Guard/Forward (Sr.)—Gilbert brings versatility to the Dodgers, who can use him in the backcourt as well as inside the paint.
  • Justin Goodwin, Guard (Sr.)—Goodwin, who serves as a team captain alongside Gilbert, will bring two years of varsity experience to the Dodgers’ backcourt.

THEY'LL MISS

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  • Aaron Fant, Guard—Fant’s varsity experience as a four-year letter winner was a big help to the Dodgers last year.
  • Matt McHale, Forward—Another starter with three years of experience, a three-sport athlete like McHale could do some damage inside the paint.
  • Jake Meister, Forward—Meister’s 14.4 points per game and rebounding prowess will be missed.

COACH’S TAKE
“Some of our kids were caught under the bubble of having kids in front of them, but we believe they can do good things. We have some question marks, but if we can turn those question marks into exclamation points, we should be OK.” –Librera

THEY SAID IT
“With football winning the state championship, hopefully they can bring their knowledge of hard work, playing through adversity, and winning states to the team.” –Gilbert, on having proven winners as a part of the basketball program.

2011-12 MADISON BOYS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Date

Time

Opponent

Friday 12/16

7:00 p.m.

at Parsippany

Tuesday 12/20

4:00 p.m.

at Pequannock

Thursday 12/22

7:00 p.m.

Mountain Lakes

Tuesday 1/3

4:00 p.m.

Morris Catholic

Thursday 1/5

7:00 p.m.

Hanover Park

Tuesday 1/10

4:00 p.m.

American History HS (Newark)

Wednesday 1/11

7:00 p.m.

at Chatham

Friday 1/13

7:00 p.m.

Morristown-Beard

Wednesday 1/18

7:00 p.m.

Dover

Friday 1/20

7:00 p.m.

Parsippany

Monday 1/23

4:30 p.m.

Morris Hills

Wednesday 1/25

7:00 p.m.

Pequannock

Tuesday 1/31

7:00 p.m.

at Morris Catholic

Thursday 2/2

7:00 p.m.

at Hanover Park

Tuesday 2/7

4:00 p.m.

American History HS (Newark)

Thursday 2/9

7:00 p.m.

Chatham

Wednesday 2/15

7:00 p.m.

at Dover

Tuesday 2/21

7:00 p.m.

at Morristown

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