In a tightly contested Area Game of the Week, the Hartford Jaguars improved to 10–2 with a hard-fought 68–62 win over the Madison Bulldogs, who fell to 9–3, in a game that stayed within one possession for much of the night.
Madison came out sharp early, taking a 21–18 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Hartford answered with steady offense in the second. By halftime, the teams were deadlocked at 33, setting the stage for a back-and-forth second half.
The Bulldogs carried a slim 52–51 advantage into the fourth quarter, fueled by timely perimeter shooting, but Hartford took control when it mattered most. The Jaguars leaned on their inside presence and free-throw shooting down the stretch, outscoring Madison 17–10 in the final period to secure the six-point victory.
Tyce Ndegwa led Hartford with 20 points, including a clutch 7-of-8 performance from the free-throw line in the second half. Coy Wilkinson matched him with 20 points, while Landen Schultz added 18 points, 12 of which came in the first half to keep the Jaguars within striking distance early.
Hartford coach Colten Barrett is proud of what his upperclassmen have been able to accomplish so far this season.
For Madison, Javi Alba Mendez knocked down four three-pointers on his way to 18 points. Brayden Grimmett chipped in 17, and Octavian Dean added 14 in the loss.
Hartford’s efficiency inside proved decisive, as the Jaguars shot 22-of-38 in the paint, despite going just 3-of-15 from beyond the arc. They also made the most of their chances at the line, finishing 13-of-19. Madison hit 6-of-12 from three, but struggled inside at 12-of-30, and went 6-of-12 at the foul line.
Other Area Scores
Girls
Madison 2 Hartford 0(Forfeit)
Olpe 50 Northern Heights 20
MDCV 61 Lebo 41
Boys Scores
Olpe 66 Northern Heights 39
Lebo 55 MDCV 27
Burlingame 53 Waverly 41
