A three-game stretch of SIRR Ohio Division games over a five-day period has resulted in the Murphysboro Red Devils clinching the conference championship.
The Red Devils began the stretch with a precarious game at Herrin.
The contest was the key game during the stretch, and Murphysboro easily dispatched the Tigers, 68-48.
Murphysboro (24-2, 9-0) played the game without guard Orlando Jarrett, the teams most tenacious defender.
"We probably didn't get as many steals and breakaway layups as we usually do with Orlando,'' said Murphysboro coach Daryl Murphy. "But we didn't gamble as much as we would with him.
"It turned into a really good team defensive effort. I thought we played a pretty flawless game."
In fact, the Red Devils never trailed as they took an early 9-0 lead. Herrin would cut its deficit to four points late in the opening period of play. But a 3-pointer by Pierre House, and a bucket inside by Dylan Craig pushed the advantage to nine points at 17-8 heading into the second quarter.
The Red Devils would lead by as many as 14 points in the second period before David Mallow hit two free throws for Herrin to make it 33-21 heading into halftime.
Murphysboro would then open the second half with a quick 7-0 spurt to basically put the game away.
Eben Brooks started the rally with a bucket, and Dre Shean Payne then drilled one of his four 3-pointers to make it 38-21. Jerrod Gaston's layup at the 5:54 mark of the third quarter gave Murphysboro a 40-21 advantage.
The Red Devils would maintain a sizable lead throughout the third period, and Payne's trey with four seconds left in the quarter made it 54-34.
Brooks would score for Murphysboro at the beginning of the fourth quarter to make it 56-34, but the Tigers would eventually cut their deficit to 14 points following a free throw by Mallow with 4:31 remaining in the game.
But Herrin would not get any closer than that, as House and Payne drilled back-to-back 3-pointers to push Murphysboro's lead back to 20 points at 64-44.
Payne and House led the Red Devils with 18 points apiece. Gaston contributed 16 points.
Mallow had a game-high 19 points for Herrin.
Just 24 hours after beating Herrin, the Red Devils returned home to face West Frankfort.
The Redbirds gave Murphysboro everything it wanted in the first half, and only trailed, 31-25, at the break. But the Red Devils got going in the second half and pulled away for a 70-40 victory.
Murphysboro led, 41-32 midway through the third quarter before 12-2 run gave the team a comfortable advantage.
House started the run with a 3-pointer at the 4:27 mark of the third quarter. He would follow the trey with a layup to make it 46-32, and Gaston then scored after a steal to push the lead to 16 points.
Following a basket by West Frankfort's Kendrick Simelton, Craig scored after an offensive rebound, and Payne hit a 3-pointer to push the Red Devils' lead to 53-34 with 2:32 left in the third period.
Murphysboro would take a 57-38 advantage into the final eight minutes of play, then outscored the Redbirds 13-2 in the final frame.
Gaston had 18 points to pace Murphysboro, while Payne scored 15, and Craig finished with 12.
Murphysboro would make it a clean sweep if the three-game stretch on Tuesday night by hammering visiting Benton, 68-36.
The victory also gave the Red Devils an outright conference championship for the first time since the 2005-06 season.
"We're excited about it," Murphy said of the conference title. "This team deserves it. They worked their tails off all the way from the summer until now."
There was little doubt that Murphysboro would clinch the conference title, as the Red Devils bolted out to a 20-2 lead over the Rangers.
Murphysboro was leading, 4-2, early in the contest when it took off and closed the first period with a 16-0 run.
The spurt was highlighted by 3-pointers by Payne and Jarrett.
If that wasn't enough, the Red Devils opened the second quarter with eight straight points to claim a 28-2 lead with 3:58 remaining in the opening half.
In all, Murphysboro scored 24 straight points, and Benton couldn't find the basket for 10 minutes.
"I thought our defense was as good as it has looked,'' Murphy said. "It was awful good."
Payne led Murphysboro with a game-high 18 points. Jarrett finished with 16 points.
Caleb Suver led Benton with 13 points, 10 of which came in the second half.
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A three-game stretch of SIRR Ohio Division games over a five-day period has resulted in the Murphysboro Red Devils clinching the conference championship.
The Red Devils began the stretch with a precarious game at Herrin.
The contest was the key game during the stretch, and Murphysboro easily dispatched the Tigers, 68-48.
Murphysboro (24-2, 9-0) played the game without guard Orlando Jarrett, the teams most tenacious defender.
"We probably didn't get as many steals and breakaway layups as we usually do with Orlando,'' said Murphysboro coach Daryl Murphy. "But we didn't gamble as much as we would with him.
"It turned into a really good team defensive effort. I thought we played a pretty flawless game."
In fact, the Red Devils never trailed as they took an early 9-0 lead. Herrin would cut its deficit to four points late in the opening period of play. But a 3-pointer by Pierre House, and a bucket inside by Dylan Craig pushed the advantage to nine points at 17-8 heading into the second quarter.
The Red Devils would lead by as many as 14 points in the second period before David Mallow hit two free throws for Herrin to make it 33-21 heading into halftime.
Murphysboro would then open the second half with a quick 7-0 spurt to basically put the game away.
Eben Brooks started the rally with a bucket, and Dre Shean Payne then drilled one of his four 3-pointers to make it 38-21. Jerrod Gaston's layup at the 5:54 mark of the third quarter gave Murphysboro a 40-21 advantage.
The Red Devils would maintain a sizable lead throughout the third period, and Payne's trey with four seconds left in the quarter made it 54-34.
Brooks would score for Murphysboro at the beginning of the fourth quarter to make it 56-34, but the Tigers would eventually cut their deficit to 14 points following a free throw by Mallow with 4:31 remaining in the game.
But Herrin would not get any closer than that, as House and Payne drilled back-to-back 3-pointers to push Murphysboro's lead back to 20 points at 64-44.
Payne and House led the Red Devils with 18 points apiece. Gaston contributed 16 points.
Mallow had a game-high 19 points for Herrin.
Just 24 hours after beating Herrin, the Red Devils returned home to face West Frankfort.
The Redbirds gave Murphysboro everything it wanted in the first half, and only trailed, 31-25, at the break. But the Red Devils got going in the second half and pulled away for a 70-40 victory.
Murphysboro led, 41-32 midway through the third quarter before 12-2 run gave the team a comfortable advantage.
House started the run with a 3-pointer at the 4:27 mark of the third quarter. He would follow the trey with a layup to make it 46-32, and Gaston then scored after a steal to push the lead to 16 points.
Following a basket by West Frankfort's Kendrick Simelton, Craig scored after an offensive rebound, and Payne hit a 3-pointer to push the Red Devils' lead to 53-34 with 2:32 left in the third period.
Murphysboro would take a 57-38 advantage into the final eight minutes of play, then outscored the Redbirds 13-2 in the final frame.
Gaston had 18 points to pace Murphysboro, while Payne scored 15, and Craig finished with 12.
Murphysboro would make it a clean sweep if the three-game stretch on Tuesday night by hammering visiting Benton, 68-36.
The victory also gave the Red Devils an outright conference championship for the first time since the 2005-06 season.
"We're excited about it," Murphy said of the conference title. "This team deserves it. They worked their tails off all the way from the summer until now."
There was little doubt that Murphysboro would clinch the conference title, as the Red Devils bolted out to a 20-2 lead over the Rangers.
Murphysboro was leading, 4-2, early in the contest when it took off and closed the first period with a 16-0 run.
The spurt was highlighted by 3-pointers by Payne and Jarrett.
If that wasn't enough, the Red Devils opened the second quarter with eight straight points to claim a 28-2 lead with 3:58 remaining in the opening half.
In all, Murphysboro scored 24 straight points, and Benton couldn't find the basket for 10 minutes.
"I thought our defense was as good as it has looked,'' Murphy said. "It was awful good."
Payne led Murphysboro with a game-high 18 points. Jarrett finished with 16 points.
Caleb Suver led Benton with 13 points, 10 of which came in the second half.
