MADISON TOWNSHIP,MANSFIELD, Ohio — Tim Mergel’s Christmas list isn’t very long this year…All Madison’s boys basketball coach wants is a few more wins.
The Rams were 5-1 heading into Tuesday’s non-conference showdown at Ontario. The last time Madison was 5-1 to start a season was 2008-09, when the Rams were 20-3 and won an outright Ohio Cardinal Conference championship under Doug Rickert.
Madison was 6-18 last winter, Mergel’s second season in charge, and didn’t win its fifth game until Feb. 14.
So what is the difference this season?
“The guys have a better understanding of what their roles are,” said Mergel, who is in his third season in charge of his alma mater. “This year we have guys who don’t care how many shots they get or how many points they score. The only thing they care about is winning.”
Madison has arguably the best player in the area in sophomore Tyrell Ajian. The point guard is averaging more than 20 points a game.
“Last year, Tyrell was coming off an injury (he sustained) during football season,” Mergel said. “I don’t think people realize how difficult it is to be a freshman on a varsity basketball court.
“This year he understands he is one of the best athletes out on the floor.”
The 6-foot Ajian has gotten plenty of help. Billy Buckley has emerged as one of the top 3-point shooters in the area, while Austin Finley is a rugged — albeit undersized — swingman. Austin Hallabrin and Alec Keen are defensive specialists who have provided valuable minutes off the bench.
“Everybody is buying in,” Ajian said earlier in the season. “We believe in what the coaches are telling us.”
Madison’s hallmark this season has been a smothering defense. The Rams were allowing 39.8 points per game at the start of the week.
“We have played well defensively, which has helped cover up some of our shortcomings offensively,” Mergel said. “Our guys understand where they are supposed to be.
“We had a couple of tough years, but we’ve always had kids with high basketball IQs. They understand the game.”
The Rams are 2-0 in the OCC and share the top spot with Ashland and Wooster. Madison will get into the meat of its conference schedule beginning Saturday at Lexington. Twelve of Madison’s 15 remaining games will be against OCC opponents. The Rams are at Wooster on Jan. 9 and host Ashland on Jan. 23.
“We fee like this is a team that can challenge for the OCC title,” Buckley said earlier this season. “We are playing with a lot of confidence.”
“This year we have guys who don’t care how many shots they get or how many points they score. The only thing they care about is winning,” stated Coach Mergel.
