Mustangs hit skid

CONTRIBUTED

By MIKE EASTERLING / For the Record

HUNTSVILLE – The sledding wasn’t expected to get any easier this week for Madison Academy’s boys’ basketball team.

The Class 3A Mustangs have already gone through a scheduling gauntlet that has included loses to top-ranked larger teams in Mississippi and Kentucky and highly ranked squads in Alabama.

Starting Monday at The Huntsville Times Classic at Huntsville High, Madison Academy was set to carry a 7-5 record into a game against 6A Florence in the first round. Two 7A teams – No .6 Grissom and Sparkman – awaited in either the winner’s or loser’s bracket Tuesday.

The championship is Wednesday, 12/30, at 6.

“We play a schedule more like a 6A or 7A team,’’ Madison Academy coach Andy Blackston said. “We only play 3A teams when it’s a league game.’’

The Mustangs are ranked No. 1 in 3A but lost four straight games heading into the Classic, the last three coming in the Steel City Invitational to Mountain Brook (7A, No.2), Homewood (6A, No.3) and Faith Academy (4A, No.3).

The latest loss was to Faith of Mobile, which finished as runner-up to Johnson in 4A last season. The Mustangs had trouble stopping Rod Williams, who had 34 points and nine rebounds in a 57-50 overtime win.

Josh Langford had 17 points and six rebounds for Madison Academy, which Blackston said was in a “funk.’’

“But,’’ he added, “playing really good teams will make us better.’’

The Rams (12-3) made 15-of-21 free throws with Williams sinking 11-of-12 against the Mustangs, who sank just 4-of-6 from the line.