Madison enters the 2023-2024 season with four returning starters and four others with varsity experience as they look forward to competing in a new conference.
The Blue Streaks finished 11-12 overall and 5-7 in the Western Reserve Conference last year. Madison joined the Chagrin Valley Conference for the start of the 2023-2024 school year and the Blue Streaks are eager to compete for the Lake Division crown this winter.
“Our team goals are to win as many games as possible and to contend for the CVC Lake Division (title),” said seventh-year head coach Nick Gustin. “Our team has good returning experience to have a successful season. This team has the work ethic and determination to consistently improve over the season.”
Madison has plenty of talent on its roster, but the Blue Streaks aren’t big, so they’ll rely on a stingy defense and opportunistic offense to win games this season.
“Our lack of size is going to be a challenge to over this season. The challenge will be to create enough turnovers to create extra possessions,” Gustin said. “This group gained a lot of valuable varsity experience last season, which should pay dividends in the close games in this season.”
The Blue Streaks will lean on senior John Peter Dragas in many ways this season.
Dragas, a 6-foot-1 guard who recently committed to continue his education and playing career at West Liberty University, averaged 27.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.9 steals, and 2.9 assists as a junior on the way to earning first-team All-Ohio and first-team All-WRC honors. He also was named the Northeast Lakes Division II District Player of the Year, and is well within striking distance of the 2,000-point mark for his career.
“J.P. has a motor that does stop,” Gustin said. “He just keeps going.”
The Blue Streaks have three other seniors and a junior in their projected starting lineup.
Bryant Perkins is a 5-foot-9 senior guard, Seth Negin is a 5-foot-10 senior guard, and Noah Barnes is a 6-foot-1 forward. Mac Steel is a 5-foot-10 junior guard.
Negin averaged 10.4 points, 2.7 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game last season in earning first-team All-WRC and honorable mention all-district honors. Barnes was an honorable mention All-WRC selection. He scored 4.1 points with 8.2 rebounds per contest.
“Perk is our vocal leader and brings back good experience at the guard position,” Gustin said. “Seth uses his basketball IQ to add to his success on the basketball court. Noah uses his athleticism to create his scoring and rebounding opportunities. Mac has the opportunities to make a strong impact on the game with his abilities to defend and handle the ball.”
Madison’s depth will come from seniors Noah Crities (5-10, G) and Mitch Sopko (5-10, G), juniors Knolan Albert (5-10, G/F), Dom Magda (5-10, G), Landon Tamco (G), and Ryan Radkowski (6-2, F), and sophomore Taylor Alley (5-10, G).
