By Madison County High Head Varsity Basketball Coach Eddie Richie
Coach’s Note: Districts start Wednesday Feb. 9th. Semi-Finals Feb. 11th and Championship Feb 12.
What a night!!! Let me start by congratulating the JV boys basketball team going UNDEFEATED at HOME!! Wow, what a season. with only one senior for next year, this group we have coming back should be strong the next 2 years!! Jv has one more contest vs. Baker County on Tuesday, Feb. 1st. If they win, they will finish their season 19-1, best record E-V-E-R. Live Oak dind’t make it easy Saturday. Live Oak almost scored 50 points in the first half!! A lot of it was them making some great shots, but Coach Demps knew that his defense had something to do with that. He gave a motivating speech at half time and Live Oak went on to only score 19 in the 2nd half as the JV Cowboys came all the way back from more than 10 down to win!!
The varsity boys game was just as entertaining, but with a lot less offense. This game was controlled by defense throughout and ended that way as well. Varsity started off hot, sprinting out to a 10 – 0 lead. That lead slowly dwindled as they found themselves up only 1 at half. It was back and forth through out the 3rd, Cowboys held a 2 point lead going into the 4th quarter. They maintained that lead but it wasn’t easy. The score was tied with 20 seconds left. The cowboys ran a play to perfection and got Tre Arnold a wide open 12 foot shot from the baseline. He hit like it was nothing. The awesome thing about that is there was so much redemption in that shot. Tre got rebound with 3 seconds left against East Gadsden and missed the game tying shot as time ran out. I always tell the players that you will get a 2nd chance and you have to be ready. Tre was ready. Live Oak called a time out with less than 5 seconds left to set up a play. The Cowboys defensive unit was already at the scorers table ready to check in because they knew it was their time to step up. As Live Oak’s leading scorer dribbled down the court, senior Bryan “Busta” Williams poked the ball away, we recovered and the celebration began. What a great night for the seniors!!
The senior festivities went well. The house was packed. All the seniors got minutes, including our special senior Nicko Thomas who did not make the team this year, but because he has been our film man and we love him so much, he got to dress tonight and take part in Senior night. Also, there was touching moment for Bryan Williams. His family had to work so he had no escort. All the seniors took part in escorting him to center court. I am blessed to be able to coach a team with that much character.
