Murphy – In a second-round win over No. 16 seed Mitchell, Murphy girls basketball shook off a slow start before pulling away for a 64-47 win. In the third round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A playoffs against No. 8 seed Albemarle on Saturday, Murphy wasted no such time.
With both teams being the Lady Bulldogs, it was Murphy’s Lady Bulldogs who dominated an overmatched Albemarle, 66-36. Murphy, which has reached the Elite 8 every year in Ray Gutierrez’ six seasons at his alma mater, hosted No. 5 seed Bishop McGuinness on Tuesday night, after this week’s edition of the Cherokee Scout went to press.
“This one’s special,” Gutierrez said. “We’re young, we’re not as talented as we have been in the past, but the kids like each other, play hard for each other.”
Bianca Robinson scored the first basket of the game for Albemarle (19-8 overall), but Murphy (26-3) answered with 11 straight and ran away with the game from there. Though Albemarle can be an up-tempo team, they had no answer for Murphy’s tempo or defensive pressure.
Murphy forced turnovers off of its press at will, and were able to get run-outs off of missed Albemarle shots. Murphy just kept coming, and after a slow shooting start in the first quarter, a 19-0 run extended its lead to 36-9 in the second quarter.
“We ran multiple presses,” senior Torin Rogers said. “Zone defense, man defense, different variations of man defense, so I just think that the different things we were throwing them out of sorts.”
Lochlan Rogers got several easy layups off of run-outs. She scored a career-high 13 points, and her older sister also got going after a scoreless first quarter and finished with a game-high 22 points.
Emma Ledford was the other Murphy player in double figures, scoring 11 points. Amari Baldwin led the way for Albemarle with 12, while Robinson chipped in 10.
The scoring wasn’t as fast and furious in the third quarter, though Murphy remained in control. Albemarle still had no answer for Torin Rogers, who had her
final 10 points of the night in the frame. Murphy’s reserves were able to get some more playoff experience in the
final minutes, icing away another playoff win.
Tuesday’s game was likely a much stiffer challenge. Bishop McGuinness has a proud tradition, and drew the ire of a lot of 1A schools after the Lady Villains joined the NCHSAA for the 2005-06 school year and won nine straight 1A girls basketball state championships from 2006-14.
They haven’t been back to the state championship since, but lost to Weldon 42-40 in the 2020 1A East Regional Final and 55-54 to Mitchell in the Elite Eight last year.
The Lady Villains cruised through the Northwest Piedmont conference, then knocked off No. 28 seed Gray Stone Day 68-20, No. 12 seed Rosman 65-49 and No. 4 seed North Rowan 66-47 to get a date with Murphy. North Rowan previously beat Robbinsville 78-64 in the second round.
Against North Rowan, Lady Villains freshman Adelaide Jernigan had 33 points and eight three-pointers, both school records. They have not lost to a 1A school this season.
Before beating Albemarle, Murphy beat No. 32 seed Elkin 72-21 and Mitchell.
“Everybody at this point is good,” Gutierrez said. “I have watched them, I’ve seen them. They’re tough, they’re disciplined, it’s going to be a battle.”
For coverage of Murphy’s first-round win over Elkin and second-round win over Mitchell, visit cherokeescout.com.