State Champions

Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009

In 1945, World War Two was winding down, the cost of a first-class stamp was three cents and the Madison Bulldogs basketball team won the Class "B" Basketball Tournament in Mitchell. Sixty-four years later, the Bulldogs got the repeat, as Madison defeated Platte-Geddes 48-40 in the Class A Boys Basketball championship at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City.

The Black Panthers took an early 4-0 lead but the Bulldogs rallied to take a 12-8 First Quarter lead. Madison extended the lead at half to 25-19, but a late fourth quarter rally by Platte cut the lead to four. Madison was able to rally and connect on seven of eight free throws to get the win. Head coach Mike Ricke says several adjustments in the fourth quarter stopped the Black Panthers rally.

Both teams had met in the 2008 Finals, with Platte-Geddes getting the win over Madison. Prior to the game, Black Panther head coach Frank Cutler felt a major key would be trying to limit Madisons inside game.

Tony Fiegen led all scorers as he had 19 points for Madison. Chad White added 13 as the Bulldogs shot just under 40-percent in the game. Derrick Wiebe had a big game in the paint for Madison, as he pulled down ten rebounds. Wiebe says he had to work against P-G forward Thad Campbell.

Jordan Johnson led Platte-Geddes with 16 points and five assists while Keith Cutler scored 13.

Madison ends the season with a record of 24-2; Platte-Geddes finishes the year 23-3.