MADISON TOWNSHIP, Ohio — The Richland Source NOL-OCC Challenge is more than a battle for conference bragging rights.
Next week’s four-team event, which includes Ohio Cardinal Conference members Madison and Lexington and Northern Ohio League constituents Ontario and Norwalk, is a Division II postseason preview.
Lexington, Ontario and Norwalk have been regulars in the Division II tournament over the years. They will be joined in the 12-team Galion district field this March by Madison, which dipped to Division II after competing in the Division I playoffs since the 2011-12 season.
“We will play two teams that we could potentially see in the postseason and we’re playing on a neutral court,” Madison coach Tim Mergel said. “I think it will definitely have a tournament atmosphere.”
The Rams (3-4) should be used to the setting after competing in the Mayor’s Classic in Massillon earlier this week. Madison was 1-1, knocking off Massillon Washington 60-56 before falling to unbeaten Tuslaw 41-37 on Tuesday.
The Division III Mustangs featured a frontcourt that included 6-foot-10 John Carroll and 6-7 Mark Meyer.
“They were big, but our guys battled with them,” said Madison athletic director Doug Rickert, whose son, Cal, is a sophomore guard. “It was a good test.”
The Rams, whose biggest player is 6-5 junior Jacob Koehler, limited Carroll and Meyer to a combined seven points. Sixth man Blaine Hewitt came off the bench to score 18 points on six 3-pointers.
“It was pick your poison,” Mergel said. “We gave up some open shots, but we were willing to live with that.”
Madison point guard Tyrell Ajian stole the show at the Mayor’s Classic. The junior scored 33 points in the win over Massillon and dropped 22 in the loss to Tuslaw.
“He came up big,” Mergel said. “He wanted the basketball and really stepped up in the leadership role.”
While Ajian has been steady, it’s been an uneven first half of the season for the Rams. Madison had lopsided wins over Clear Fork and Ashland and one-sided losses to Shelby, Lexington and Wooster.
“We’ve been up and down,” Mergel said. “We are still searching for a degree of consistency.”
The road gets no easier for the Rams. Ontario and Norwalk, Madison’s opponents in next week’s showcase, are a combined 13-2.
“I think you have four of the better teams in the district competing in the challenge. Lexington is undefeated, and Ontario and Norwalk each have one loss,” Mergel said. “We are a game below .500 and I think we have a chance to be pretty good.
“We have played both Ontario and Norwalk in the past, but there is more excitement when you attach a name to it. Everyone will be playing for conference bragging rights.”
