Madison Bulldogs: Season Summary

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are checking out the Bulldogs from Madison in this Season Review article. Coach<em> Larsen's</em> team put together a great season, had some fantastic wins, and made it to the SoDak 16. The biggest win of the season came in the SoDak 16 Qualifier game against Dell Rapids at Augustana. The Bulldogs played a wonderful game and came away with a 67-60 victory! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shout-out to [player_tooltip player_id='1625175' first='Aiden' last='Jensen'] on being selected to the Class A All-State 2nd Team and 1st Team All-Dak XII! Also, [player_tooltip player_id='1263162' first='Ben' last='Brooks'] on being selected to Dak XII 3rd Team All-Conference!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size">See below for stats, player comments, and a Q&amp;A session with coach <em>Jeff Larsen</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1842251,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/SeaonReview-.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/SeaonReview-.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1842251" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team:</strong> Madison</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mascot:</strong> Bulldogs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach:</strong> <em>Jeff Larsen</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class:</strong> A</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region:</strong> 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Conference: </strong>DAK XII</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Record:</strong> 14-9</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Playoffs:</strong> Lost in SoDak 16 to Hamlin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wins Against:</strong> Deubrook, Vermillion, Flandreau, Dell Rapids St. Mary, Dell Rapids (2x), Chamberlain, Tiospa Zina, Tri-Valley, McCook-Central-Montrose, Canton, Milbank, Viborg-Hurley, Baltic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1869216,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/madison-crop-1125x739-1679671678.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/madison-crop-1125x739-1679671678.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1869216" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Stat Leaders</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1625175' first='Aiden' last='Jensen'] (2023) |6'9 PF|</strong> - 20.9 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.9 apg, 60 total blocks. 61% 2's, 34% 3's, 69% FT's</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1526952' first='Andrew' last='Comes'] (2024) |5'10 G</strong>| - 11.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.0 apg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1263162' first='Ben' last='Brooks'] (2025) |6'8 F|</strong> - 9.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.3 apg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1526946' first='Chuck' last='Callahan'] (2024) |6'1 G|</strong> - 6.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.6 apg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eli Barger (2024) |6'1 G/F|</strong> - 5.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.4 apg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thomas Mechels (2024) |6'2 F|</strong> - 2.1 ppg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Player Comments from coach <em>Jeff Larsen</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>All the players in the program made huge strides throughout the season. We won 14 games this season and qualified for the SoDak 16.  [player_tooltip player_id='1625175' first='Aiden' last='Jensen'] set many school records and will leave as one of the best players to come out of Madison High School. [player_tooltip player_id='1526952' first='Andrew' last='Comes'] shot the ball well for us all season long and had 1 game with 8 3's made! He improved his strength and shooting throughout the course of the season. [player_tooltip player_id='1526946' first='Chuck' last='Callahan'] did a really nice job bringing intensity to the team, he shot the ball well and did a good job entering the ball into the post. [player_tooltip player_id='1263162' first='Ben' last='Brooks'] ran the point position for us as a sophomore and flirted with a triple-double a few times. He is #3 All-Time in single-season assists in MHS boys basketball history. Eli Barger hustled every play and did the little things for us to be successful throughout the season. <strong>Thomas Mechels</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1641206' first='Shane' last='Veenhof']</strong>,<strong> and Elijah Sims</strong> played their role well for us off the bench all season long.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Q&amp;A with head coach <em>Jeff Larsen</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: How would you sum up the season for your squad</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Larsen</span>:</strong> "<em>We had a successful season winning 14 games and exceeded some people's expectations. We came up 1 game short of the State Tournament and that will make the younger kids hungry to get there next year. [player_tooltip player_id='1625175' first='Aiden' last='Jensen'] had a monster year while continuing to see double and triple teams all season long.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What were some of the highlights from the season</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Larsen</span>:</strong> "<em>Winning 14 games, Beating Dell Rapids twice, making the SoDak 16, [player_tooltip player_id='1625175' first='Aiden' last='Jensen']'s 41-point performance, and breaking the school record of points scored in a single game.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: How did your team overcome adversity</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Larsen</span>:</strong> "<em>We responded very well to adversity this season. Our captains kept us together amidst adversity and the whole team worked hard in every practice. We started the season 1-4 and then won 13 out of our next 17 games.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who were some of your hardest workers and what did they do</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Larsen</span>:</strong> "<em>The whole team knows hard work is an expectation and they work hard every practice and game.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who are a couple of role players that stood out to you</span>? </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Larsen</span>: </strong>"<em><strong>Thomas Mechels</strong> - did everything that was asked. <strong>Eli Barger</strong> - Defended well.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Can you talk about your seniors and what will be missed</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Larsen</span>:</strong> "<em>[player_tooltip player_id='1625175' first='Aiden' last='Jensen'] will be an All-State player. He drew double teams every game and opened a lot of things for everyone else. He worked very hard over the last few years and will have a great career at Mount Marty. He scored 917 points in a little over 2 years of playing Varsity basketball.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who are some up-and-comers to look out for in the future</span>? </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Larsen</span>:</strong> "<em>Everyone has a bright future if they put in the time it takes to be a good player.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What are the plans for the offseason</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Larson</span>:</strong> "<em>We have A.M. Breakfast Club, shooting, ball handling, and scrimmage 2x a week in the spring, and we will partake in team camps and workouts in the summer.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1869216,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/madison-crop-1125x739-1679671678.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/madison-crop-1125x739-1679671678.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1869216" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->