Tuesday, February 21, 2012
15-point second quarter proves to be the difference as Dodgers prepare for state playoffs.
The Madison High School boys basketball team celebrated Senior Night Monday by recognizing 11 Dodgers and then erupted for 15 points in the second quarter en route to a 38-28 win over rival Chatham. IN SHORT Chatham had beated Madison in two previous meetings this season, but not on senior night. The Dodgers took it to Chatham in the second period, scoring 15 points while holding the the Cougars to only two points from the free-throw line. A pair of Nick Evangelista 3-pointers and Justin Goodwin's four points helped the Dodgers open up a 12-point advantage. Madison kept the Cougars at bay, stopping a rally in the fourth quarter that generated only 10 points, including two points each from Colin Brown, Joe Timmes and four from Scott Baker. …
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Madison High School
170 Ridgedale Ave, Madison, NJ
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60565
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Saturday, March 12, 2011
Cheshire Home for disabled a regular stop for boys team.
The Madison High School boys basketball team displayed leadership and determination this season on their way to an appearance in the state sectional semifinals, but it’s what they did off the court that showed what these young men are truly capable of. In the midst of preparing for their final regular season games and the upcoming state tournament, Madison head coach Bill Librera and his team took time out to visit the Cheshire Home, a not-for-profit care facility for physically disabled adults, in Florham Park. Part of a program started by the high school athletic department two years ago, Librera has decided to make his teams’ visits a regular occurrence, as they have volunteered four times since the start of 2010 and plan to head back …
Friday, March 11, 2011
Madison basketball coach made all the right moves, connections with players, on the way to state semi-finals.
During an early season practice in December, Madison High School boys basketball head coach Bill Librera spoke about the upcoming season as he watched his senior heavy team run up and down the court. While anyone familiar with Madison hoops knew heading into the season that this Dodger team was special (they returned four starters from a 2010 season that saw Madison go 21-4), Librera didn’t want to talk about success, but rather improvement saying, "we just want to get better and better and better." And with the Dodgers’ previous success and returning lettermen creating lofty expectations for 2011, Librera’s mindset never wavered, and the Madison head coach decided that a tougher regular season schedule would be the best way to get better…
40.769396
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Madison High School
170 Ridgedale Ave, Madison, NJ
/articles/patch-coach-of-the-year-bill-librera
60565
/locations/3657518
Monday, March 7, 2011
Senior helped power Madison to state semi-finals.
The Madison High School boys basketball team boasted a number of weapons on the way to a deep run in the state playoffs, but one player, senior Jake Meister, stood out a little more than the rest. Meister, who is listed at six-foot-three, has been a starter for head coach Bill Librera’s Dodgers since his sophomore year, leading Madison in scoring in both his junior and senior seasons. And while Meister’s ability to find the net is unquestioned—Librera describes him as having a “a chest for scoring”—the Dodger captain impacted his team in a multitude of ways. “He’s a team leader through and through,” Librera explained “He’s a kid that when I think of Madison basketball, he optimizes it." "I am so proud of how Jake has matured as a young man…
Friday, March 4, 2011
Madison's second-half surge comes up short in season-ending defeat.
The Madison basketball team looked like it was on its way to completing its second consecutive come-from-behind win in the North 2, Group II state playoff, this time against visiting Ridgefield Park on Friday night, as senior Aaron Fant and junior Matt Gilbert lit up the scoreboard in the second half, raining 3-pointers and helping the Dodgers chip away at an eight-point halftime deficit. But Madison’s comeback bid would come up just short, as a Fant 3-point attempt with time expiring careened off the rim, putting an end to Madison’s semifinal round match-up and season, 54-53. “I thought Ridgefield Park played great and I thought we played great.” Madison head coach Bill Librera said after the game. “You can’t have two winners, that’s why …
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Dodgers advance in state playoffs with 36-35 win.
Matt Gilbert drained a 3-pointer from the corner to lift Madison High School to a thrilling 37-35 win over visiting Newark Tech in the North Jersey Section 2, Group II state playoff quarterfinals Wednesday night in Madison. The Dodgers advanced to a semifinal match-up against Ridgefield Park Friday in Madison. Click here to read the full game report.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Dodger defense comes up big in quarterfinal-round victory over Newark Tech.
Trailing 22-9 at halftime of Wednesday night’s North Jersey Section 2, Group II state playoff quarterfinal, it looked as if Madison's bid for redemption against Newark Tech—the school that bounced the Dodgers from the the state tournament in 2010—would go unfulfilled. Cue junior sharpshooter Matt Gilbert. Gilbert, who went scoreless in the first half, found his range in the second, hitting four 3-pointers, including the game-winner with 20 seconds left, helping Madison to a 37-35 win and advancing the Dodgers to the state sectional semifinals where they host Ridgefield Park on Friday. Click here for a complete photo essay from the game. “It’s a great feeling, but I have to thank my team,” said Gilbert, who finished with 12 points. “Coach …
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Defensive effort comes up big in win over Fort Lee.
The Madison High School boys basketball team deployed a smothering defense in a dominant 61-36 first-round win over Fort Lee in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 2 state playoffs. While the Madison offense took some time to get rolling, the second-seeded Dodgers limited No. 15 Fort Lee to just one point in the first quarter, and nine points in the first half. With Fort Lee feeling the effects of Madison's superior size—the Bridgemen wouldn’t score until the final 10 seconds of the quarter—the Dodgers would take advantage as senior Jake Meister helped the Dodgers on an 11-0 run to open the game. “Even though we went on that 11-0 run, we knew we weren’t playing amazing defense,” Meister said. “They were getting to the line, they just weren’t …
Monday, February 28, 2011
Second-seeded Madison hosts Fort Lee today at 7 p.m.
The Madison High School boys basketball team entered the 2010-11 season with high expectations which now take on added urgency as the Dodgers look to make a run in the North II, Group 2 State Tournament. Madison (15-6), seeded second in its bracket, will open its quest for a state title hosting 15th-seed Fort Lee High (7-14) in a first-round game on Monday at 7 p.m. in Madison. The Dodgers, led by head coach Bill Librera, finished the regular season with back-to-back wins over Morristown and crosstown rival Chatham, averaging more than 64 points in those two games, five points better than their season average. Senior Jake Meister, who led the Dodgers in scoring (15.2 ppg) and rebounds (5.4) this season, will need to continue his impressive…
40.769396
-74.407068
Madison High School
170 Ridgedale Ave, Madison, NJ
/articles/high-hopes-accompany-dodger-boys-in-state-hoops
60565
/locations/3525126
Friday, February 25, 2011
Dodgers now point to state tournament game Feb. 28.
There's always a little bit more than just a win at stake when the Madison High School boys basketball team faces off against border rival Chatham High. On Thursday night in Madison the Dodgers walked away with the rubber match of a three-game series, taking control early as they cruised to a 60-50 win and ever-important season's bragging rights. Madison now looks forward to hosting Fort Lee in a first-round state tournament game Feb. 28. “[I feel] very good,” Madison head coach Bill Librera said after the win. “To take two out of three against a program like that, says a lot for the program that we have. I thought they played well and I thought we played well. It was a well-contested high school basketball game and I’m just proud of the …
