24-0 Madison the underdog?

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Staff photo by Nick Graham Madison head coach Jeff Smith talks to his players during practice Monday, March 8, 2010 at Madison High School.

Mohawks are up to the challenge against Taft, which is favored to win the D-III state title.

By John Bombatch, Staff Writer Updated 8:15 AM Wednesday, March 17, 2010

MADISON TWP. — Both coaches have a great deal of respect for their opponent. Both believe their team has what it takes to win.

The undefeated Madison Mohawks (24-0) will take on the team many people have tabbed as the favorite to win the state title, the Taft Senators (22-2), at 8 p.m. today in the Division III boys basketball regional semifinals at Fairmont’s Trent Arena in Kettering.

“It’s definitely going to be a really good game,” Taft coach Mark Mitchell said. “We’ve had a great season, but you’ve got to consider Madison as the best team still alive in the state tournament. They were ranked No. 2 in the final Associated Press poll and the top-ranked team (Findlay Liberty Benton) has been knocked out. That makes Madison the team to beat.”

Madison coach Jeff Smith has a great deal of respect for Taft, which finished the regular season ranked sixth in the AP poll.

“Their only losses this year were to Division I Aiken and (2009 New York Federation state champion Rice from New York City) in a tournament in South Carolina,” Smith said. “They beat Woodward this season. Middletown High fans will recognize that name (Woodward defeated the Middies in the D-I playoffs), so we know they’re a pretty good basketball team. But we think we’re a pretty good team, too.”

Taft is led by Adolphus Washington, a 6-foot-6 sophomore forward who averages 16.4 points per game. In Friday’s district championship win over Bethel, Washington led the Senators with 25 points and 10 rebounds.

Madison’s top scorer is 6-4 senior forward Mark Maloney, who averages 15 points a game. Maloney played on Mitchell’s 2008 AAU basketball team, the MBA Elite, based out of Cincinnati.

Maloney scored a game-high 25 points in the Mohawks’ district title win over Shroder Paideia.

“Taft was picked to win the state title this year, so we’re really looking forward to the challenge. I know a lot of those guys, so it’ll be like a friendly little battle,” Maloney said.

Both coaches said turnovers (the fewer the better) will be key. Mitchell said rebounding also will be an important factor for the Senators. Smith said the Mohawks’ ability to handle Taft’s defensive pressure is just as big.

“Friends tell me, ‘Oh man. You’ve gotta play Taft,’ and I tell them, ‘Hey, they’ve gotta play Madison,’ ” Smith said. “It’s wild when you’re 24-0 and considered the underdog, but that’s OK. We like that.”

The winner will advance to the regional finals at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Trent Arena to face the winner of today’s first game between Anna and Columbus Ready.

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