Boosted by Addison’s return, Dogs blow out Highlands to open year
Murphy – Typically when an athlete misses a few games due to injury, their first game back consists of them working to regain their rhythm.
However in the Lady Bulldogs’ blowout win against the Highlands Lady Highlanders, Murphy senior Sydni Addison showed that notion isn’t always true.
After missing the Lady Dogs’ last four games due to a knee ailment, Addison returned to the starting lineup for Murphy and came back firing on all cylinders for a team-high 19 points.
“It felt good to get back out there with my teammates,” Addison said after the game. “It just felt like I was back home.”
“She’s our point, our senior, our captain, and the talent and toughness that she brings helps us and completes us,” Lady Dogs coach Ray Gutierrez said of the boost on and off of the court that Addison brings. “To have her back makes us a much better basketball team.”
Weeks ago, when the two teams clashed before the Holiday Break, the Lady Highlanders led the Lady Dogs 15-10 at the end of the first quarter with Addison watching from the sideline.
In the rematch, with the senior back in the mix and the Murphy home crowd behind them, the Lady Dogs hounded Highlands and finished the first frame with a whopping 21-3 lead.
“We came back today and we really wanted to lock in defensively,” Gutierrez said of the difference between the two games. “And that’s where it starts. I think that was the difference and I’m very proud of what we did defensively tonight.”
The Lady Dogs continued to build on their comfortable lead in the second quarter and ended the half with a 41-14 margin thanks to double-digit, first-half production from Addison, Sarah Pullium and Torin Rogers.
Murphy coasted in the second half, maintaining their lead and holding the Lady Highlanders to zero points scored in the fourth quarter to open the new year with a 67-24 win.
Addison finished with three 3-pointers and three steals in the victory while Rogers ended the night with 14 points and five rebounds in three quarters.
“It brings a lot,” Rogers said of having Addison back on the floor, “Not only is she a great player, but she’s our point and helps create our offense. It was great to have that back.”
Pullium came away with 12 points in the victory, while guard Mia Wilson produced eight points and grabbed four rebounds in addition to dishing out four assists.
“We got good minutes from everybody,” Gutierrez said. “Everybody had a positive contribution to the game tonight and it was a total team effort.”
The undefeated Lady Dogs next head on the road to take on the 2-7 Swain County Lady Devils on Tuesday, January 6 after the Cherokee Scout’s press time.