Murphy – The Bulldogs’ week didn’t start out good, but as the days went on it got better. They fell to McMinn County, Tenn. (4-9), 72-66, but Murphy got back on track on Jan. 9, when the team entertained Nantahala (3-6).
The Bulldogs were playing without leading scorer Dominick Rummler, but it didn’t matter. Murphy jumped out to a 28-point lead in the first period and never looked back in a 93-53 victory.
Zach Skogen hit double figures in the first quarter as he popped for 10 of his 18 points. Xander Wachacha added seven in the first and Murphy built a 40-12 lead at the end of the first period.
Bradey Golden got into the double figure club in the second quarter as he hit four 3-pointers and added another field goal for 14 second-quarter points. Conner Golden added eight second-quarter points as the Dogs built a halftime lead of 74-31.
Murphy had most of the staters on the bench in the second half but still outscored the Hawks in the third period to build a 47-point lead with the scoreboard reading 85-38 at the end of three. Nantahala fought back in the fourth period to close the margin to 40.
Skogen and Brady Golden led all scorers with 18 apiece, while Golden scored 12 of his 18 from 3-point land. Murphy had three other players with double figures – Xander Wachacha had 11, while Tyler Payne and Conner Golden had 10 apiece.
The Hawks had two players in double figures – Cole McCoy led all Hawks scorers with 15, while Chase McMahan had 13 points.