03-08-13
BY JACK BULLOCK
PEORIA – It wasn't a pretty contest, but then again the Madison Trojans don't always win games with a beautiful style.

But Coach Jaime Cotto's club, in yet another workman-like victory, got the job done.

The Trojans once again proved to be a force on the offensive glass (13-rebounds) and Deontay Starnes hit the two biggest free throws of his prep career as Madison advanced.

Marquis Bourney led the Trojans with 18-points while Starnes added 15.

Coach Cotto's lunch pail squad punched the time clock Friday afternoon and punched their ticket into the Class 1A championship game with a 51-50 win.

Starnes calmly hit the charities tosses with :08.3 left and Lanark-Eastland failed to get a shot off at the end, committing their 14th turnover right before the final buzzer sounded.

“Obviously you want to win, but the last time we were here (2010) when we lost that first game (Sesser-Valier) it was a long day,” said Coach Cotto. “It was a long day and a very depressing day. We talked about that, the mistakes that the 2010 team made and it was my first time here and I made a lot of errors. We are trying not to make those same errors this time.”

Lanark-Eastland fell into the third place game for the second time in three seasons, having finished fourth in 2010 after losing to Madison.

The Cougars were topped in scoring by Dalton Shaner, a 6-foot-1 junior guard, with 19-points while teammate Ty Hartman finished with 18.

“Believe it or not, that was one of our points of emphasis in practice the last day and a half. I didn't have them ready, it is my fault,” said Coach Tony Dunlap, talking about Madison's rebounding edge. “Its no fun losing. Their offensive rebounding, giving up 18 points in the fourth quarter is unacceptable. We didn't finish down the stretch.”

In a contest that had 32-total turnovers, including 18 from Madison, and 14 lead changes it was the Trojans who handled the pressure late in the game to pull out the victory.

Starnes converted a conventional three-point play with :41.6 but Lanark-Eastland's Hartman scored on a drive to the basket to give the Cougars a 50-49 lead a few seconds later to set up the final possession by Madison.

The 6-foot-5 junior forward was fouled by Skylar Paulson and, after missing his first five free throws, hit the most important ones for the Trojans who will play for a state championship on Saturday, their first since winning the championship back in 1981.

“We kept telling him (Starnes) that we believe in you and we know you're going to make them,” said Coach Cotto. “We didn't even talk about what we would do if he missed.”

The Trojans will face Mason City-Illini Central, who were 52-38 winners over Nokomis in the other semifinal.

“They (Lanark-Eastland) put a lot of pressure on us and they are strong,” added Coach Cotto. “We just were tentative with the ball. If you are going to make a mistake I want an aggressive mistake. In the fourth quarter we were stronger.”

Madison didn't shoot the ball well but they picked up the win by getting second chance points.

The Trojans hit just 19-of-41 shots from the floor but came up big from the foul line late in the contest.

Quincy Ware, a 6-foot-1 senior reserve, came up with some big plays including a big blocked shot in the second half for Madison who improved to 21-11 on the season.

Coach Cotto also got 14-points from Tyvon Powers in the victory.

Madison led 11-5 early, despite six first quarter turnovers.

Starnes, Bourney and 6-foot-3 senior forward DiJon Bryant all scored early with Bourney nailing a 3-pointer with 3:45 left for a six-point bulge.

However Lanark-Eastland (30-4) closed the quarter strong and took back the lead.

Seven consecutive points by the Cougars, with Hartman scoring on a set out-of-bounds play for a 12-11 lead at the first horn.

Madison trailed by as many as five points in the second quarter before rallying for a 24-all halftime score.

Bourney added another three pointer and Madison capitalized on its ability to create offense on offensive rebounds with Starnes taking a pass from Bryant for a lay in that closed the quarter.

Bryant had grabbed an offensive rebound and dished to Starnes to send the teams to the lockerroom dead even at the break.

Four of the lead changes came in the third quarter with neither team being able to get separation.

In a game that featured 31 personal fouls, the Trojans made just enough foul shots to survive.

The teams combined to attempt 15-free throws in the quarter and Madison committed seven of their turnovers (Lanark-Eastland added five) in a sloppily played stanza.

“Early we were turning the ball over so much that we couldn't do the things that we are good at; rebounding the ball. If you are turning the ball over their isn't even a shot attempt,” added Coach Cotto.

Powers powered his way to the basket for a three-point play and a 27-26 lead early in the third frame.

The Cougars' Shaner nailed two charities with :01.7 left to give L-E back the lead at 34-33 heading into the fourth quarter.

Lanark-Eastland didn't shoot the ball well in the semifinal.

The Cougars lost for just the fourth time this season due in part from a 18-of-42 (42 percent) shooting performance and getting out-rebounded 30-22.

They were just 2-of-14 from 3-point range.

Bourney, the nephew of former Madison standout Maurice Baker, scored six of his points in the final period.

Twice he scored on steals and fast break lay ins.

His final bucket cam on a driving bank shot for a 46-all deadlock with just 1:36 left.

Eastland's final advantage came on a shot in the lane by Harmon with 1:05 remaining.

“Each and every athlete that was on the floor, each and every athlete that was on the bench, each and every coach that was on the staff gave it their best effort. We just didn't execute and do the little things right,” added Coach Dunlap.

The final minute belonged to Starnes and Madison, sending the Trojans back to the championship game for the first time in 32-years.

“It (playing for a state championship) is a goal every year,” finalized Coach Cotto. “It is kind of a surreal feeling, it hasn't really sunk in yet.”

Madison (51) – Bryant 1 0 0-0 2, Starnes 6 0 3-8 15, Metizenheimer 0 0 0-0 0, Powers 3 1 5-5 14, Bourney 5 2 2-3 18, Ware 0 0 0-0 0, Dixon 1 0 0-0 2.
2FG-22, 3FG-5, FT-10-16, PF-15.
Lanark-Eastland (50) – Ty Hartman 7 0 4-8 18, Skylar Paulson 3 0 3-4 9, Blair 1 0 0-0 2, Hansen 0 0 0-0 0, Shaner 4 2 5-6 19, Mueller 0 0 0-0 0, Devin Hartman 0 0 0-0 0, Fink 1 0 0-0 2.
2FG-20, 3FG-3, FT-5-11, PF-15.-
Fouled Out – Bryant - Madison; Paulson - Lanark-Eastland.
Technical Fouls – None.