The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Madison, Badin set for battle

Undefeated Mohawks like challenge of GCL foe Rams in D-III boys hoops sectional final.

Prep basketball: Fairfield isn’t ducking top seed
2/12/12
College basketball: MUH men win regular-season finale
2/12/12
OSU women back in Big Ten race
2/12/12
Hey coaches, recruits are still kids
2/12/12
RedHawks electric in lopsided victory
2/12/12
> More sports headlines

By Rick Cassano, Staff Writer 12:00 AM Friday, March 5, 2010

A Butler County prep boys basketball showdown will take center stage tonight, March 5, at the University of Dayton Arena.

It’s top-seeded Madison (22-0) vs. No. 5 Badin (12-10) for a Division III sectional championship at 8 p.m. And it’s a big one.

The Mohawks will be trying to remain unbeaten, capture their first sectional title since the 1972-73 campaign and give the Southwestern Buckeye League a nice notch in its belt against the Greater Catholic League.

“We certainly respect Badin, but we don’t fear them,” Madison coach Jeff Smith said. “We’re not just happy to be here. We want to win it.”

The Rams always point to the postseason after banging heads with bigger, stronger teams like Moeller and La Salle during the regular season. The thought of facing an undefeated D-III squad doesn’t make them squirm.

“We play the regular season to get ready for games like this,” Badin coach Nick Argentati said. “I’m not saying we’re guaranteed to come out and win, but we’re not going to be in awe of their talent and size and athleticism.”

Argentati chose to enter Madison’s bracket at the draw, though Smith understands that was more about possible matchups down the road than a sign of disrespect for the Mohawks.

Madison’s starting lineup is filled with scorers. Argentati said the quintet of Mark Maloney, Matt Houser, Tyler Dietz, Josh Foster and Justin Brunswick is impressive.

“One to 5, outside of maybe Taft, they’re probably the most talented team in the region,” Argentati said. He believes Foster, the point guard, and Brunswick, a 6-foot-9 center, are the squad’s most pivotal players.

“Anytime you put a 6-9 kid on a Division III team, that’s going to be a matchup problem for anybody, not just us,” Argentati said. “You don’t see that many kids with that kind of ability at the D-III level.”

The Mohawks play full-bore transition basketball. Badin will push as well, though typically not to that extent.

Smith believes Madison must neutralize Rams guard Scott Purcell, who’s averaging 16.9 points per game.

“We like to get it and run, and they like to get you in a half-court game and beat you up,” Smith said. “We’re not a finesse team, but we probably have a little bit more of that angle. Badin’s going to be more of the rough and tough in-the-trenches team.”

Both teams were ousted by Versailles in last year’s sectional. Both losses came on shots in the closing seconds.