To end the regular season, the Murphy varsity basketball team had a perfect, yet busy week.
In the final week of the regular season, the Dogs had a four-game week, picking up wins over Swain County, Hayesville, Robbinsville and Rosman. Their win over Robbinsville secured the No. 1 seed ahead of this week’s Big Smoky Mountain Conference tournament.
Dogs down Swain
The boys got Murphy’s busy week started by facing Swain County on the road, defeating the Maroon Devils 79-59 on Feb. 9.
The Dogs opened the game with 23 points in the first quarter to lead 23-12 heading into the second quarter. They added 17 more points before halftime to lead 40-25.
The Dogs continued to score in the second half and extend their lead. They scored 16 points in the third quarter and 23 more in the fourth.
Abram Twiggs led the Dogs with a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Cale Harger had 18 points, while Aaron Harger added 11.
Boys beat Jackets
With five players scoring double digit points, the Dogs defeated Hayesville 88-56 on Feb. 11.
The Dogs opened the game with a 23-point first quarter to take an early lead. They added 20 more points in the second quarter to lead 43-22 at halftime.
Hayesville outscored the Dogs 17-14 in the third quarter, but the Dogs led 57-39 heading into the fourth quarter. With a huge 31-point fourth quarter, the Dogs secured the victory.
Cale Harger led the Dogs with 21 points, followed by Grayson Hall with 15, Ryan Payne with 13, Tyler Payne with 12 and Twiggs with 11. Abram Twiggs had eight rebounds, coming up two short of his second straight double-double of the week.
Dogs secure No. 1
In a highly anticipated rematch between Murphy and Robbinsville, the Dogs avenged their only conference loss and defeated the Knights 68-52 on Thursday night.
The gym was packed for Murphy’s final regular season home game as they hosted the Knights with a lot on the line. With the win, the Dogs clinched the No. 1 seed in the Big SMC tournament.
It was a tight first quarter with the Dogs leading for the majority of it.
The Knights added late points for the game to be tied at 11 after the opening period.
The Knights took an early lead, but then Murphy claimed the lead and maintained it through the second quarter. The Dogs led 28-23 at halftime.
Abram Twiggs started the third quarter with a huge dunk. Early in the quarter, the Dogs extended their lead to 10. The Dogs continued to lead and took a 45-36 lead to the fourth quarter.
Both teams picked up the pace in the fourth quarter. The Dogs maintained their lead in the fourth quarter, as Murphy led by 10 halfway through the quarter.
Abram Twiggs led the dogs with 26 points. 21 of his points came in the second half.
Cale Harger and Hall were also in double digits with 12 points each; 11 of Hall’s 12 points came in the second quarter.
Boys end with win
In the regular season finale, the Dogs traveled to Rosman and defeated the Tigers 67-24 on Friday.
The Dogs opened the game with a 17-point first quarter. They then followed it up with 21 more points to lead 38-13 at the half.
Murphy continued to score in the second half, adding 21 points in the third quarter and eight in the fourth to win.
Ryan Payne, Elijah Twiggs and Abram Twiggs led the Dogs with 10 points each. Elijah Twiggs led the team in rebounds with seven, three shy of a double-double.
Up next
The Dogs finished the regular season with a 19-3 overall record, 11-1 in the SMC. They secured the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.
With the No. 1 seed comes a first-round bye. They will play in the tournament at 8:30 p.m. today and face the winner of Andrews vs. Hayesville, which took place after the Cherokee Scout’s press time Tuesday morning.