Good luck, MC hoop boys

We join the community in a doff of the chapeau to this season’s incredible Madison County High School boys basketball team – or should we instead say a tip of our Mountaineer raccoon-skin cap?

Under the knowing leadership of second-year head coach Tim Taylor, the team has won all 27 games it has played so far this year, including several vs. teams from schools much larger than MCHS, such as Orange County and Greene County’s William Monroe. The squad will play in the quarter-finals of the state tournament March 7.

Madison is only three games away from winning its first state basketball championship in more than three decades. (It last won in 1977.)

We salute this year’s hometown hardwood heroes — A.J. Butler, Casey Campbell, Jerel Carter, David Falk, Chris Fincham, Matt Garr, Kyle Louk, Patrick Lucas, Andre Parker, Dominic Roebuck, Logan Terrell, Sam Utz, Travis Warren and Jerod Williams – and wish them luck in the game against Northampton, which will be at Monticello High School in Charlottesville. (Check www.madison-news.com for updates on the game time.)

While we cheer for the team, we would be remiss if we failed to recognize the team’s fans and impressive community support as well. Huge, standing-room-only crowds of supporters have packed just about all of the recent Madison games, many waiting in long lines that snake several blocks out the door. Many go all out, painting themselves blue and white (the school colors) or wearing T-shirts emblazoned with special slogans like “MADISON MANIA.”

Even the long trek over the mountain to Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg for the region championship game Saturday night didn’t deter Madison fans, who had to brave an at-times heavy snowstorm on the slippery return trip from the valley. They packed the EMU gym, becoming a force in themselves as they thundered with near-deafening cheers at every Madison success. Notably, many were not young people, nor did they have close ties to any individual player on the team. They were there to support their community’s team, in a way unique to Madison, where cheering on the hometown team has a rewarding meaning and gives a special thrill – especially in these challenge-filled times.

Good luck, Madison.