Blue streak: MCHS looks for No. 22

Madison County coach Tim Taylor knows he’s going to have to address it with his team before the Mountaineers take the floor tonight at home against Strasburg. If Madison takes down the Rams it will be the team’s 22nd straight victory and cap an undefeated regular season.

But for all the hoopla surrounding the possible feat, Taylor and the Mountaineers view it as just one step toward their ultimate goal — a state championship.

“It should be a fun night,” Taylor said. “I think our fans are excited about it, maybe more than the players are.”

Though Taylor thought the Mountaineers might have lacked focus in a couple of late-season victories, he said Tuesday that his team has given a consistent effort all season and that with postseason games looming, the precision has returned.

“Yesterday’s practice was unbelievable,” Taylor said. “It was probably one of the best we’ve had. The effort has actually been there all along. We’ve never had a problem with the way this team has played and practiced.”

Tonight’s game gives the Mountaineers an opportunity to break the school record for consecutive victories. The 1977 squad won 21 straight before losing in the district tournament. That team went on to win the school’s only state title in boys basketball.

“The streak is there of course,” Taylor said. “Everybody is aware of that. But our goal is to win a state championship and I think we’d rather lose 10 games and win a state championship than have the undefeated (regular) season. But I think one of the things we’ve done since we got here two years ago was that we laid the foundation to get better everyday in practice.”

That’s not to say there won’t be some celebration if Madison beats Strasburg. Finishing unbeaten has become a goal for the Mountaineers.

“We’ve always talked about climbing the ladder and taking each step up,” Taylor said. “We talked about winning the district, then going undefeated. That’s another step. But I think we’ve been really focused on February and March. We’ve been focused on that since November.”

Now that February is here the Mountaineers have a spot in the regional tournament locked up and Taylor has taken the opportunity to scout some of the potential postseason opponents.
The looming challenges have also sparked some nerves from the team now used to being a heavy favorite.

“We’re all getting a few butterflies,” Taylor said. “I can’t sleep at night thinking about the teams we might play.”

Group A Top 10
                     
                          Record Pts Prv
1.  Madison Co.  (11)  21-0 119   1
2.  Radford (1)        16-3 102   2
3.  Appomattox         18-2   94   3
4.  Buffalo Gap         17-1   81   4
5.  Dan River           16-3   72   6
6.  Chesterfield         14-4   55   8
7.  Galax               19-2   25   10
8.  Surry County       14-4   24   5
9.  Lancaster           14-2   22   9
10.  Appalachia         18-1   15
Others receiving votes: James River-Buchanan 13. Lebanon 12. Twin Valley 11. Franklin 7. Twin Springs 5. Castlewood 2. Colonial Beach 1.