On Saturday, March 8th the Madison Dodgers defeated Caldwell to earn their third North 2, Group 2, state sectional title in the past four years. This game was a battle from the first to last whistle, which is not well-indicated through the final score of 55-37.
Caldwell is one of the few opponents Madison has faced who has outscored them on the season. The Dodgers knew they would need to have a strong defensive performance to shut down Caldwell’s powerhouse offense that revolves around Sophomore Addison Keenan who averages 19 points per game.
Keenan’s versatility in her shooting and driving abilities make her extremely dangerous. Defending Keenan is no easy task, but it is one that Madison Head Coach Lisa DiTuro knew Senior Devon Johnson could handle.
At 5’11”, Johnson’s height combined with her speed make her a nightmare match-up for her opponents. She held Addison Keenan to only 5 points in their victory over Caldwell, which is 14 points below her season average. It was this outstanding defensive performance that allowed the Dodgers to hold Caldwell to only 37 points; their lowest scoring game on the season.
The Dodgers outscored Caldwell by an average of 4.5 points each quarter. It was this slight margin, combined with the Dodger’s strong defensive performance, that eventually built up to that final 19 point victory.