01/17/2025
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARTERVILLE - Making the most of the opportunities in Friday night's road contest, the Murphysboro Red Devils got off to a big lead and never let host Carterville closer than seven points in the final two quarters as Coach Daryl Murphy's squad picked up a key SIRR Ohio Division victory, 58-47, over the Lions.

Murphysboro hit the shots when they needed them early and got easy looks at the basket late to secure the win, improving to 2-1 in the division, 13-2 overall.

The Red Devils closed the first quarter with a scoring run to take control and went 7-of-7 from the field in the second quarter to assume a 33-20 advantage to halftime.

Although they struggled some early in the game from the foul line, the Red Devils hit 3-of-4 from the stripe late along with 6-of-7 field goals, mostly on cuts to the basket, in the final minutes to send the Lions to their fourth division loss.

The top scorer for Murphysboro was 6-6 junior forward Kemmeon Hale, who scored 16-points for the Red Devils.

Seniors AJ Boese and Cade Brooks added 12 and 10 respectively in the victory.

Junior Myles Guthman scored eight-points, including a pair of 3-pointers in the first half during an offensive shooting performance (11-of-18) for Murphysboro.

“We don't go deep (into the bench) and it seemed like we got tired a little bit,” said Coach Murphy. “We had a little lull in the third quarter but we picked it back up about the six minute mark in the fourth.”

Coach Shane Hawkins' Carterville club now sits at 0-4 in the league, 8-8 overall.

Junior guard Colton Hawkins paced the Lions with 12-points but no other teammate had more than seven in the loss.

The Lions got off to a pretty good start, taking an 8-7 lead on a 3-pointer by junior Kaden Wilson and a baseline shot by senior Parker Poole.

Wilson was involved in a scramble for a loose ball near half-court in the first quarter when he got hit in the mouth

Wilson didn't play the rest of the game and, according to Coach Hawkins, he needed five stitches and lost a tooth.

The Lions could have used his offense and defense the rest of the game.

The Red Devils closed the first quarter with a 9-0 run.

Both senior Amartez Bankhead and Boese hit two free throws each and Hale finished a fast break off of a Bankhead rebound and outlet pass.

The first of the two Guthman long range bombs found the mark just before the first horn for a 16-8 Murphysboro advantage.

The Red Devils took their largest lead of the contest late in the second quarter.

With yet another 9-0 scoring spree, Murphysboro took a 33-17 lead.

Boese took an assist from Hale for an inside score followed by a fast break lay in by Cade Brooks.

Hale also scored in the paint before Guthman's second trey in the first half closed the run, which forced a Carterville timeout at 1:57 left in the second quarter.

“Kemmeon is getting better and better,” said Coach Murphy. “He's been working hard and he has incredible touch around the basket.”

(CONTINUED)

Sophomore guard Zach Snow nailed down a 3-pointer from the left corner to close the gap to 33-20 at the break.

Snow hit another 3-pointer in the third quarter and a drive in the lane by sophomore Maddox Gulley whittled the lead to just 37-30 at the 2:56 mark.

The Red Devils closed out the quarter with scores by Boese, Cash and Cade Brooks, for a 43-35 spread heading to the final period.

Hawkins scored his final points of the night on a 3-point shot and then a possession later hitting 1-of-2 free throws for to close the gap to 53-45.

The Lions got no closer.

Hale and Boese hit 3-of-4 from the foul line and Hale iced the cake with a score on a nice assist from Boese with 1:00 left.

Boese also scored on a pair of cuts to the basket off of the Red Devils' spread offense.

“Credit to them (Carterville) they kept battling us,” said Coach Murphysboro. “They hit some shots in the third quarter and closed the gap a little bit but I thought that when we went to the spread we did pretty well there for about four plays (possessions).”

Murphysboro ended up 21-of-37 overall, 5-of-10 from long range and held a 24-14 rebounding advantage.

They only allowed Carterville three offensive rebounds.

The Lions hit just 18-of-39 from the floor, 5-of-12 from the arc as that wasn't good enough on Friday night.

Despite five of their 13-turnovers coming in the fourth quarter, Murphysboro's defense and rebound won out in the end.

Both teams head into mid-winter tournament play next week.

The Red Devils head to the 60th annual Sparta Mid-Winter Classic while Carterville will play at the 50th Benton Invitational Tournament.

“I thought we did a good job executing late,” said Coach Murphy.