CASPER – For Torrington High School graduate Logan Murphy and Lady Blazer Coach Jeff Halley, the Wyoming Coaches Association All-Star basketball game was more about the experience and not the end result.
That proved to be a good thing as the North squad raced by the South 80-49 on the campus of Casper College Saturday afternoon.
“We all played with all we had. The other team had height, and they did their own thing,” Murphy, a three-year starter for the Lady Blazers said. “We tried to stay equal with them, but they slid away from us.”
The North scored the first five points of the game, but on two occasions in the first quarter, the South managed to get back within one.
However, that proved to be as close as the South team came to seeing the lead all game long.
Despite the end result, Murphy got a taste of what it will be like next season as she enters her freshman year at Eastern Wyoming College. It gave her an opportunity to get a taste of what college will be like, playing with a different group of teammates.
“It was a really good experience for me going in and playing college next year, and also, playing against girls against or watched throughout the years of high school,” she said.
The game also provided her an opportunity to begin the transition from the forward position to a guard.
“It will be a hard transition becoming a guard which I will be playing next year at college,” Murphy said. “It was a good experience getting my hands on the ball.”
She also leaves the WCA All-Star game having made new friends – some of whom she will cross paths with on the court again next season.
When the final horn sounded, Murphy scored four points – all coming in the second half.
“She has a motor. She just plays hard. She goes and goes. She’s a good example,” Halley said. “The other girls noticed it. The coaches noticed it. It’s something that we are greatly going to miss. She always brought that energy and was a good leader for us.
“It’s fun watching her do what she does,” he added. “She’s had to be the big kid her whole life on our team. Coming down here, you let her be creative and be an athlete. It was fun to watch her be in her real element. It was fun watching her in a whole new role.”
Halley was excited to get to coach her one more time and hopes the experience of the game will propel her into a successful freshman season for the Lady Lancers.
“It was great that she could play in this. It was good experience for her, and hopefully, she’ll have some success playing for the Lancers next year,” Halley said. “It’s fun watching her do what she does. She’s had to be the big kid her whole life on our team. Coming down here, you let her be creative and be an athlete. It was fun to watch her be in her real element.
“It was great that she could play in this. It was good experience for her, and hopefully, she’ll have some success playing for the Lancers next year,” he concluded. “Hopefully it’ll be something that she can take off with next year.”
South 12 11 12 14 – 49
North 20 23 20 17 – 80
South: Hailey Barker 4, Selena Cudney 5, Miranda Gilkey 2, Kirstin Gourley 3, Taylor Groll 7, Logan Murphy 4, Baylee Tims 8, Emmery Wagstaff 16.
North: Ashlyn Bower 5, Jaci Christiansen 11, Kierra Cutright 25, Haley McDermott 6, Teila McInerney 17, Leighanna Shoulderblade 6, Sarah Henkle 5, Jade Ware 2, Ky Sorenson 3.
