Murray finds bright spots

Published 12:20 am Friday, April 27, 2007

Murray County’s basketball teams faced tougher competition, longer bus rides and had far fewer occasions for victorious postgame celebrations this year while competing in Region 5-5A.

But while the win column took a hit during the 2006-07 season, the memory book certainly didn’t.

Both Indians coach Greg Linder and Lady Indians coach Traci Rankin were able to look back with some fondness on the journeys — both literal and figurative — their teams made over the course of last year. And that gave them plenty to celebrate at the programs’ banquet on Thursday night at the high school in Chatsworth.

Linder’s second season leading the Indians wasn’t filled with the same type of highlights as his first, which included a Region 7-4A title and a state playoff victory. Murray County finished 10-13 and struggled to string wins together the way it had so effortlessly in 2005-06, but he knew the senior class he was bidding farewell to at the banquet was a special one.

“I think they’ve done a lot of good things for our program,” Linder said. “Most of them contributed to last year’s region championship team. But this team, this year, with what they were able to accomplish and the way we competed in 5A, the character of this team is something that I’ll remember.”

With a midseason slump among the obstacles the Indians faced, it likely wasn’t easy. But Linder was able to look beyond the hills and valleys of the schedule to find high points that didn’t depend on the scoreboard.

“Right around Christmas time, everybody really developed their roles and we got better,” he said. “Our record didn’t show it, but each week, we got better and better.”

Senior center Stephen Spivey, who will play at LaGrange College next season, had no regrets about his time at Murray County. And he was proud of the Indians for not giving up on each other — even in the season’s lower moments.

“We did a good job of staying together,” Spivey said. “A bunch of us at the beginning were like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I can’t believe we’re up here.’ But then we stuck together and had a few good ballgames.”

The Lady Indians went winless in 23 games, but pleased their second-year coach by sticking together and practicing hard despite the on-court disappointments.

Rankin said she was proud of her team’s steady progress on the defensive end, citing the team’s confidence playing man-to-man as a good sign by the end of the schedule. And she saw plenty of other moments to give her hope for the future.

“I think our future is very bright,” Rankin said. “The girls are determined — they didn’t lose spirit and they didn’t lose will. We all got down at some point, but we all kept the team together.

“That’s something to look forward to and we’re going to come back really strong next year.”

Both coaches also gave out their postseason awards and varsity letters to players.

For the boys, Spivey was named the team’s MVP for his contributions on both ends of the floor, where his play around the basket was one of the best assets the Indians had.

He averaged 12 points and seven rebounds and was a member of The Daily Citizen’s All-Area Team.

Jake Kendrick, who finished with 30 steals and averaged five rebounds, was named Best Defensive Player. Allyn Walls, who averaged eight points and finished with 55 assists, was the team’s Best Offensive Player.

Cayla Brock and Elyse Kendrick shared the Best Offensive Player award for the Lady Indians, while Brittney Spence won the Coaches’ Award and the Academic Award, as did Cayla Singleton, and Jennifer Bagley was named Most Improved and Tember Marchant earned the Hustle Award.