Nobody's underdog: Douglass knocks off No. 1 Madison Central in region semis

A key 3-point play by a senior reserve helped spark a 9-0 run that No. 7 Douglass rode to victory over the favored Indians.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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No. 7 Frederick Douglass upset No. 1 Madison Central 58-49 in the 11th Region Tournament semifinals, overcoming a deep 3-pointer by Madison Central's Jake Feldhaus late in the third quarter with a 9-0 run sparked by a 3-point play from reserve Naz Gillispie. Douglass point guard Dakari Talbert then took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 7 straight points to extend the lead. Tate Robinson led Douglass with 16 points, while Feldhaus had 26 points and 10 rebounds for Madison Central.

Why it matters

Douglass was expected to be a contender in the 11th Region this season, but losses earlier in the year had diminished those expectations. This upset win over the state's top-ranked team proves the Broncos are still a force to be reckoned with and keeps their hopes of a region title alive.

The details

After Madison Central's Jake Feldhaus hit a deep 3-pointer to give the Indians a 41-40 lead late in the third quarter, Douglass reserve Naz Gillispie responded with a 3-point play to put the Broncos back on top. Douglass then opened the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run, capped by a step-back 3-pointer from Dakari Talbert, to take a 49-41 lead they would not relinquish. Tate Robinson led Douglass with 16 points, while Feldhaus had 26 points and 10 rebounds for Madison Central.

  • With 58 seconds left in the third quarter, Jake Feldhaus hit a deep 3-pointer to give Madison Central a 41-40 lead.
  • With 29 seconds left in the third quarter, Naz Gillispie converted a 3-point play to put Douglass back on top 43-41 going into the fourth quarter.
  • Early in the fourth quarter, Dakari Talbert scored 7 straight points, including a 3-pointer, to extend Douglass' lead to 49-41 with 5:53 remaining.

The players

Naz Gillispie

A senior reserve for Douglass who hit a key 3-point play late in the third quarter to spark a 9-0 Douglass run.

Dakari Talbert

The Douglass point guard who scored 7 straight points early in the fourth quarter to help the Broncos pull away.

Tate Robinson

The leading scorer for Douglass with 16 points, including 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the final minutes to seal the win.

Jake Feldhaus

The 11th Region player of the year and Mr. Basketball finalist for Madison Central, who led the Indians with 26 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

Allen Feldhaus Jr.

The head coach of Madison Central, who was hit with a technical foul in the second quarter that forced him to remain seated on the bench for the rest of the game.

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What they’re saying

“The strength of our team is that anybody's capable of scoring. DeMarcus didn't have his greatest game, but we are so balanced, anybody could step up and make a play. Naz Gillespie comes off the bench and hits that jumper in the corner, a three-point play right there that was just as big as any. Super proud of our guys.”

— Murray Garvin, Douglass coach (kentucky.com)

“That was a big momentum swing and something that we needed. … I'm just glad that it happened. It doesn't matter who it is. It's playoff basketball. There's nothing like it. March Madness — anything happens.”

— Dakari Talbert, Douglass point guard (kentucky.com)

“We played Central at their place, and that place is rocking. So we knew coming down here to Richmond that it was going to be the exact same environment, maybe even louder. Dakari taking over in the fourth quarter was big. And then Naz with that big 'and-1.' It flipped the momentum and allowed us to finish down the stretch.”

— Tate Robinson, Douglass player (kentucky.com)

“I thought there were four or five, kind of consecutive trips where we went to the rack and there was no call. I was frustrated with that. And it's frustrating for me because I'm very intense, I understand that. I haven't been T'd up the entire year, and I get one early, and it takes me out of my game. I won't say anything other than that.”

— Allen Feldhaus Jr., Madison Central coach (kentucky.com)

What’s next

Douglass will face defending champion Great Crossing on Monday in the 11th Region final. The Warhawks defeated Lexington Catholic 50-42 in the other semifinal. Douglass and Great Crossing met earlier this season, with Douglass winning 74-65 in the season opener on Dec. 2.

The takeaway

This upset win over the state's top-ranked team proves that Douglass is still a force to be reckoned with in the 11th Region, despite some early-season losses that had diminished expectations. The Broncos' balanced scoring attack and ability to make key plays down the stretch showed their resilience and determination to reach the region final.