EVERETT – Clinching a postseason ticket would make most players jump for joy.
But not the focused Archbishop Murphy Wildcats, who are still shooting at loftier targets.
Wes Taylor scored a team-high 14 points and corralled a game-high 14 rebounds for Archbishop Murphy, which held Orcas Island to 25 percent (11 for 44) shooting from the field Monday to claim a 54-37 Northwest A League boys basketball victory.
Point guard Luke Hagel added 12 points for Archbishop Murphy (7-2 in league, 14-5 overall).
With the win, the Wildcats clinched a spot in the Class A tri-district tournament. But they believe they have bigger fish to fry.
“We didn’t even think about clinching the tri-districts,” Archbishop Murphy coach Jerry Zander said. “We want to win the (district) title. We’re focused on that.”
Archbishop Murphy, ranked No. 7 in the WashingtonPreps.com Class A poll, can clinch the league title today with either a home win against Coupeville (5-4, 10-9) or a Friday Harbor (6-3, 12-6) loss at LaConner (5-4, 7-12).
Archbishop Murphy has used a slew of defenses this season – 3-2 and 2-3 zones, as well as traps – but the Wildcats’ straightforward man-to-man strategy limited Orcas Island to just six combined points in the middle quarters Monday. Zander described the effort as “one of the best this year.”
It all starts with Murphy’s seasoned seniors. In practice and in games, they ignite the defensive charge.
“Our practices are real intense,” Zander said, “and if anyone starts to dog it, they’re right on them.
“It makes our job as coaches a little easier.”
Ryan Harvey, the only player to have much success against the Wildcats “D”, scored a game-high 15 points for Orcas Island (0-9, 3-11).
Orcas Island-Kamphaus 1, Parkerson 3, Gaffney 2, Easterling 2, Harvey 15, Welch 8, Talbot 2, Kimple 2, Doherty 2. AM-McCann 5, Jensen 6, Tilge 2, Terhar 2, Taylor 14, Hagel 12, Pettinger 2, Mitchell 9, Forgey 2. 3-point goals-Harvey 2, Welch 1, McCann 1, Hagel 2. JV score-A. Murphy won. Records-O. Island 0-9 in league, 3-11 overall. A. Murphy 7-2, 14-5. |
Girls basketball
Orcas Island 57, Archbishop Murphy 54: It took a 23 point fourth quarter by Orcas Island to end Archbishop Murphy’s 17-game winning streak. The loss dropped the Wildcats into a two-way tie with Coupeville for first place in the Northwest A League. The teams play tonight in a regular season finale in Everett, with the winner claiming the league title.
Megan Sanders, the league’s top scorer, scored 31 points, 12 in the final period to lead Orcas Island to the upset.
“Sanders had a great game,” Archbishop Murphy coach Bill Kelley said. “She’s an incredible player.”
Sanders scoring average to 20.9 points-per-game.
Archbishop Murphy-Lyons 16, Eknes 13, Coate 8, Taylor 7, Frahm 6, Lasswell 2, Werner 2. Orcas Island-Sanders 31, Peacock 9, Holtman 6, Tran 5, Taylor 5, Tellefson. 3-point goals-Eknes 1, Lyons 2, Sanders 3. JV score-Archbishop defeated Orcas Island. Records-Archbishop Murphy 8-1 in league, 17-1 overall. Orcas Island 6-3, 11-5. |
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