Mamou dropped from playoffs by No. 18 Madison

MAMOU -- Friday night, the Mamou Demons hosted the Madison Jaguars at home for a Class 3A first round playoff contest.
Both teams played very well, but, unfortunately for the Demons, the Jaguars played a better game offensively. As the final buzzer sounded, Mamou was at the bottom end of a seven point deficit, which ended the score 68-61. The loss dropped the Demons from the playoffs.
During the initial quarter of the game, Mamou wasted no time putting up the first basket for two points only 20 seconds into the game. Starting the game off on top is always a bonus, however the Jags did not let their opponent control the score board for very long.
With 6:38 remaining, Madison initiated a seven point scoring streak that gave them the advantage. The Demon defense did slip for a moment, but their immediate offensive actions settled things up at the end of the first period. As time ran out on the first quarter, the two teams found themselves knotted at 14-14.
Immediately into the second quarter, Mamou struck first with an excellent three point basket scored by Tralon Arvie. The Jaguars answered quickly, tying the score back up again.
The two teams exchanged the lead several times over the course of the second period. At the 2:40 mark of the quarter, Madison busted loose from the Demons by producing a 9-3 run to close out the half, giving the Jaguars a 30-26 lead with the two teams heading into the locker room
After the intermission, the Demons realized that if they were going to take home a victory they needed to play even harder on both ends of the floor. Mamou did just that, opening the third quarter with a 6-2 run.
Madison picked up the next three points on a basket and a made free throw. However, Mamou responded by scoring the next eight points, which included a duo of three-pointers from Mason Tinley. At the end of the third period, the roles had flipped, and Madison was now at the bottom of the scoreboard, 45-41.
As the fourth quarter began, the Demons had finally walked on to the court with an advantage for the first time in the game. Arvie nailed a three-pointer to open the scoring in the final period.
The Jaguars responded with a three-point bucket of their own. After Mamou knocked down a basket at the 7:01 mark, the Jaguars not only appeared to have more fire left under the hood, but Mamou’s sloppy play on the offensive side of the floor led to several Demon turnovers.
Over the next two minutes, Madison used that sloppy play to their advantage, going on a 10-0 run to take over the game and lead 54-50. The crowd was shocked to see the numerous offensive errors by the Demons, which basically handed to the opposing team the game.
The continually failing efforts of Mamou sealed the deal for the Jags and at the final horn, the Demons exited the court having suffered a tough seven point loss.