PERFECTION!

 

The Murphy Middle School Boys team capped off their undefeated season with a conference championship win over Cherokee.

Folks around the Murphy area have had their eyes on this group of kids for quite sometime, watching them grow since they were a part of the first “PeeWee” division (first grade) the Murphy Rec Department ever had.

The championship matchup with Cherokee seemed inevitable if you followed Smoky Mountain Conference Middle School basketball this year. Murphy and Cherokee played twice in the regular season- Murphy won the first matchup 77-58 at home, but on the road the Braves gave Murphy all they wanted and came within 3 points of ruining the Bulldogs bid for a perfect season.

This time around Murphy left no doubt. A 57-37 victory allowed the Bulldogs to take home the SMC title and the programs first perfect season in recent memory.

Eighth grader Ryan Payne led the way for the Bulldogs this year, averaging 13.5 points per game, including 15 in tonight’s championship. AJ Rice, Cale Harger and Tyler Payne also averaged over 10 points per game for the Dogs this year.

ALL of the members of this team played a vital role in making this perfect season possible, and we want to take the time to recognize them all individually.

Congratulations to:

Brayden Gutierrez

AJ Rice

Robert Turner

Ryan Payne

Abram Twiggs

Brady Grant

Landon Ennis

Elijah Twiggs

Tyler Payne

Cruz Yarbro

Cale Harger

Camden Breazeale

Aaron Harger

And a special congratulations and thank you to Coach Robert Payne and Coach Henry Grant for the time they put into this program especially during the offseason.

The future of Murphy Basketball is in good hands with these young men!