Madison Academy girls, boys begin play in today’s regional

HUNTSVILLE – Madison Academy’s boys basketball team seemingly has a recipe for success heading into its third straight trip to the Northeast Regional today.

For starters, all five starters are seniors. The team blends size and a strong inside game with solid perimeter play. There’s also a history to envy, one that includes a 27-6 region record dating back to 1994 when the format was introduced as well as seven state championships from 1999-2016.

The fourth-ranked Mustangs (23-8) continue their quest for an eighth state title today when they take on Hokes Bluff (24-7) at 1:30 p.m. at Jacksonville State.

Madison Academy hasn’t played Hokes Bluff, but head coach Tom Berryman has a scouting report.

“They’ve got really good guard play,’’ he said. “They’ll probably play four guards most of the game. They’ll try to play fast. They’ll spread it out and they shoot a lot of 3-pointers, about half their shots are 3s. So we’ll have to guard the 3-point line. That’ll be big. I think we have a size advantage, so we’ll have to try to really focus on getting the ball to the rim. But I expect them to play a lot of zone, probably a 2-3 zone.’’

Also today at Jax State, No. 2 Madison Academy (30-2) plays Alexandria (15-14 at noon.

Madison Academy’s Shane Davis, a force at 6-4 foot-5 and 250 pounds, is coming off a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds in the boys sub-regionals. A Shelton State baseball signee, he joined the basketball team last summer.

Davis said the team’s guards are capable of busting a zone.

“I think we have shooters and we can slow the game down if we want to get the ball Inside,’’ he said. “We have great shooters and I have all the faith in the world that they’ll hit the shots.’’

Power forward JR Howard helps anchor the backcourt with Davis. Other starters are point guard Gianssen Valdez and guards Tony Wilson and Bryce Curtis. Wilson leads a balanced scoring attack with around 13 points per game.

“I think we’re kind of hard to prepare for because of our balance,’’ Berryman said. “On a given night we don’t know who the leading scorer is going to be.’’

The Mustangs have another special ingredient. After advancing to regionals the past two seasons while playing in 5A, they’re back in 4A where they won regional championships the last time they were classified at this level in 2017 and 2018.

“We played better competition at 5A,’’ said Valdez, who is in his third varsity season. “That definitely prepared us better as well.’’

NORTHEAST REGION

Class 4A boys

Alexandria (27-4) vs. Plainview (27-6), today, 10:30 a.m.

Hokes Bluff (24-7) vs. Madison Academy (23-8), today, 1:30 p.m.

Class 4A girls

Cherokee County (25-3) vs. Plainview (28-5), today 13, 9 a.m.

Alexandria (15-14) vs. Madison Academy (30-2), today, noon

Class 7A girls

Hoover (29-4)  vs. Sparkman (13-14), Monday, 3 p.m.

Albertville (28-3) vs. Vestavia Hills (27-4), Monday, Feb. 17, 6 p.m.

NORTHWEST REGION

Class 7A boys

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (24-7)  vs. James Clemens (16-12), Friday, 10:30 a.m.

Florence (23-7) vs. Tuscaloosa County (19-11), Friday, 1:30 p.m.

Class 7A girls

Bob Jones vs. Thompson (11-13), Friday, 9.a.m.

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (30-2) vs. Florence, Friday, noon