Murphy – The Murphy and Hiwassee Dam varsity basketball teams met for the second time this season, splitting their games.
This time they faced off in Murphy on Thursday, when the Lady Eagles defeated the Lady Bulldogs, while the Murphy boys varsity teams defeated the Eagles.
Boys varsity
After a tight first half, the Dogs pulled away in the second half to secure a 60-45 win to defeat Hiwassee Dam for the second time this season. From the start, it was a fast-paced game, with fans of both teams cheering loudly.
Murphy took a big lead early, but the Eagles battled back to take the lead. Jimmy Kelley of Hiwassee Dam hit a corner 3-pointer with 1:05 left to give the Eagles a 16-12 lead, which is where the score stood at the end of the first quarter.
The Eagles were the only team to put points on the board in the opening three minutes, but then the Dogs fought back to take the lead in the final two minutes of the second quarter. In the final minute, Abram Twiggs drained a 3-pointer to give the Dogs the lead, but Jonah Dockery hit a 3-pointer of his own to tie it at 25 heading into the half.
The Dogs went on a run straight out of halftime. After building momentum, the Dogs took a 10-point lead late in the third quarter. The Eagles battled back to stay in the game, but the Dogs led 39-33 after three.
Both teams continued to score in the fourth quarter, but the Dogs built on the momentum they had built to score 21 points in the fourth quarter to win the game 60-45.
The Dogs were led by Twiggs who had 21 points. Tyler Payne was also in double digits with 10 points. Two Eagles were in double digits, with Aidan Bennett scoring 15 points and Dockery having 11.
Girls varsity
Hiwassee Dam took an early lead, then built on it to defeat Murphy on Thursday in their second meeting of the season.
The teams went back and forth to start the game as Abby Harris of Hiwassee Dam hit a 3-pointer, then Murphy’s Cayla Geer immediately also hit a 3 to tie it early. After the early exchange of points, the Lady Eagles began to pull away. Avery McNabb made a free throw late in the first quarter to give the Lady Eagles a 10-point lead.
The Lady Eagles took full control of the game in the second quarter. When Murphy called a timeout with 3:37 left, the Lady Eagles led 28-10.
Late in the second quarter, Brinkley Payne made a 3-pointer to give the Eagles a 21-point lead. Heading into halftime, Hiwassee Dam led 38-15.
Hiwassee Dam continued to score in the third quarter. With just under three minutes left, the Eagles extended their lead to 30 points.
It was more of the same in the third quarter, as the Lady Eagles pulled away with the lead. They went on to win 69-39.
The Lady Eagles were led by Payne who had 25 points. She made two 3-pointers and went 3/3 from the free throw line. Olivia McNabb was also in double digits with 17 points and Harris had 15 points. Olivia McNabb also went 7/11 from the free throw line.
The Lady Dogs were led by Kennedy White, who had nine points, as she went a perfect 9/9 on free throws. Emma Laney had six points.