Madrid keeps St. Edmond at bay to advance to championship

DES MOINES - With the championship game on the line, Madrid knew what had to be done against St. Edmond. Win, and they’re one more victory away from making history. Defeat would mean an exit from state.

Behind 22 first half points from Toryn Severson and a balanced attack in the second half, Madrid was able to push away a feisty and spirited Gael squad to take a 71-58 decision to make it to their first ever state basketball championship.

“This is what it’s been all about,” Madrid coach Brian Surratt said. “27-0 and it’s a huge deal for our kids. They’ve worked so hard for all this. I mean, hours and hours and hours in the gym just working together trying to make everybody better. We got tripped up last year and that was a heartbreaker. I think that’s what spurred us on this year and it’s been really special.”

Toryn Severson echoed his coach’s thoughts.

“This what what we’ve worked for our entire season and our entire careers to play in the state title game and win and we’re looking forward to that,” he said.

The start of the game began like the quarterfinals, Madrid getting on the board first and starting with a couple of buckets, but stagnation set in as the Gaels were able to build a pair of three point advantages. Madrid battled back to take the lead later on a hoop and harm from Toryn Severson. A late tip from Hunter Horn from SE tied it up at 14 going to the second.

“Both games we got buckets right off the bat and then we hit this kind of lull,” Surratt said. “The things we talk about doing going into the games we did early and then all of sudden we start doing our own individual things. And it’s tough to shoot down here. It’s just completely different.”

The Gaels kept their momentum going early in the second period by going on a bit of a run to push a lead to four. Madrid came back as Toryn Severson started to heat up, hitting shots all over the floor to give Madrid the lead back. The lead switched a few more times until a layup from Fabian Ortiz-Alaniz put Madrid up for good. The Tigers stretched their advantage to eight at halftime, 34-26.

“I just saw what was open and was taking the shots that I needed to and they were going in,” Toryn Severson said. “Fabian and Brody can score the ball and they did a great job of that. Emerson and Jevyn also did a great job of getting really important buckets and important stops on the defensive end.”

Through the third, Madrid saw their lead extend to 12 points at different occasions, but the Gaels always fought back to cut into the Tiger advantage. A late tip by Jevyn Severson made sure the Tigers had a double-digit lead going to the fourth, 52-41.

The Gaels started the fourth on a 5-0 run to cut Madrid’s lead to seven. However, Madrid came back out with a Jevyn Severson jumper and Ortiz-Alaniz triple to push it back to 10. No matter how many times Madrid pushed their lead to 12, St. Edmond countered as Madrid did their best to get the knockout blow. The Tigers were able to get key stops down the stretch to seal their first ever appearance in a state championship game.

“It’s crazy, we’ve worked so hard,” Brody Buck said. “It all comes to a head tomorrow, feels great.”

Toryn Severson poured in a game high 32 points to go with four rebounds, and went 6-for-10 behind the arc. 

“This is what he’s prepared for his whole life,” Surratt said. “He’s just such a special player and a leader for us. He really carried us in the first half and in the second half it got a little tougher. He’s just a great kid and does everything the right way and I’m so proud of him.”

Jevyn Severson had 11 points and eight rebounds as Emerson Bridgewater put up the same numbers. Buck had 11 points, six rebounds and two steals while Ortiz-Alaniz had six points and three assists. Logan Klatt had a rebound and an assist.

“We have so many guys that can score and that was a big component today,” Buck said. “Just everyone getting their buckets. Emerson had a huge and one, Jevyn had a huge and one, it was a team effort. It was probably the most coherent game we’ve played. We played together.”

Coach Surratt agreed with Buck’s assessment of it being a team effort.

“That’s the special thing about our basketball team is that it’s not one player, two players, three players, four players, it’s all five guys on the court you gotta guard,” Surratt said. “Our kids know how to play and how to play together. They know, we’ve been talking, if you want to get here you have to play team basketball.”

The Gaels were paced by Horn’s 23 points as Carson Bargfrede added 17.

Madrid made 51 percent of their shots and 39 percent from behind the three point line. They were 8-for-10 at the free throw line. St. Edmond was 41 percent from the floor and 88 percent from the line. Madrid had 31 rebounds to the Gaels 25.

The Tigers play again on Friday night against #1 seed Marquette Catholic with the winner getting to hoist a state championship trophy. 

“This is what everybody wanted to see, number one versus number two, find out which is the best team,” Surratt said. “They have a tremendous basketball team, great athletes and we feel pretty confident about our basketball team too. I think it’s going to be a back and forth battle until somebody hits the big knockout punch.”  

Tip off is set for 7 p.m. and the Madrid Register-News will be on hand for updates and photographs.

"I mean we’re looking forward to it, they’re a really good team,” Toryn Severson said. “We’re a really good team so I think it’ll be a really fun basketball game to watch.”