Tigers pull away from Comets to earn first state victory

DES MOINES - Wednesday afternoon was the second time the Madrid boys basketball team had a chance to play at Wells Fargo Arena in the 1A state tournament. The senior class, led by Toryn Severson didn’t want their second trip to be another one and done. Severson poured in 30 points to help lead Madrid past Boyden-Hull, 68-57 to get to the semifinal round.

“It feels great,” Severson said of the win. “We haven’t won one before, finally got it done, looking forward to more, hopefully.”

Fellow senior Brody Buck echoed some of the same thoughts.

“It’s really crazy to make history like that,” he said. “I don’t think we’re done yet. We’re going for two more here. To punch our names on that board was really cool.”

Severson got the scoring going to kick off the game as the Tigers and Comets went back and forth in the opening minutes. A layup by B-H’s Jakob Pottebaum put Madrid in an early five point hole, 11-6. However, the Tigers have battled back against early deficits before this year and did just that. A buzzer beater by Jevyn Severson pulled Madrid within a point after the first quarter, 13-12.

More back and forth play followed until another bucket from Toryn Severson put Madrid back in the lead for good with 4:50 left in the first half. Another late basket from Jevyn Severson pushed the Tiger lead to six going into the locker room, 31-25.

“We had to adjust at halftime,” Severson said of giving up a lot of second chances to B-H. “I think they had 10 offensive rebounds at halftime. They may have had five or six in the second half, so, I mean, it’s a bit more than we’d like to give up so tomorrow we definitely gotta find a guy and box out.”

The orange and black came out in the third period a little off as they were unable to score in the first three plus minutes of the frame. The defense kept Boyden-Hull in check through those moments. Late in the period, three pointers by Fabian Ortiz-Alaniz and Buck pushed Madrid’s lead to 11, but a late score from B-H made it a nine point game going to the fourth, 48-39.

“I think it was just toughness,” Buck said of how they were able to respond all game. “Offensive rebounding was huge, they got some many offensive rebounds so that was a really big deal. (Coach Brian) Surratt really punched that home that we need to box out.”

Madrid saw their advantage dwindle down to five with 5:44 to play, but the Tigers were able to respond as they have this postseason. A hoop and harm from Toryn Severson pushed it back to eight. Madrid pushed the lead to 10 points or so for the rest of the game as they held on to advance and get their first state victory.

“We’ve been down at the start of games before but I think our team does a great job of responding well,” Severson said. “Especially the underclassment today, Emerson and Jevyn, did a good job of keeping their nerves under check so it was good. We just kept going with what was working. We knew they’d make their runs, it’s how we’d respond and I think responded pretty well, exceptionally well in the second half.”

Toryn Severson had 30 points to go with six rebounds. Buck noted after the game that Severson is a dog and could drop that much every night.

“I didn’t know exactly how much I had but I was just attacking the lane and finishing well,” Severson said. “I was like “it’s working so I’ll keep on doing it.’”

Buck added 14 points with six boards as well. Jevyn Severson picked up 14 points to pair with nine rebounds, four of them on the offensive end. Ortiz-Alaniz had six points as Emerson Bridgewater had four points, four blocks and seven boards.

Madrid made 54 percent of their shots and went 14-for-18 at the free throw line. The Tigers had 32 rebounds, five blocks, four steals and four assists. 

Boyden-Hull was led by Pottebaum’s 17 points. The Comets kept possessions alive with 16 offensive rebounds.

Madrid remains unbeaten this season at 26-0. They play again tonight against the St. Edmond Gaels who rallied against Woodbine, 52-49. The winner of that game plays the winner of Marquette Catholic and Gladbrook-Reinbeck on Friday night.

“We’re fine with playing whoever,” Severson said. “Every team is going to be good.”

“Either way it should be a good game,” Buck said. “Teams don’t get to the semifinal for no reason.”