CHATSWORTH — Second- seed Murray County stretched its winning streak to 11 games overpowering Pierce County 82-19 here Tuesday in the first round of the Class AA tournament.
The third-ranked Lady Indians’ (23-4), who lost in the AA title game a year ago, scored a season-high in points, and set a season-best for fewest points allowed and largest margin of victory in the matchup with the Lady Bears (8-18).
Murray County, which starts four sophomores and a senior, reached the 2024 Final Four after back-to-back quarterfinal appearances in 2022 and 2023.
PCHS, seeded third, surrendered the most points ever in its 16th state playoff appearance covering 26 games, fewest points scored and largest margin of defeat.
A bright note was senior Claire Murray joining the Lady Bears’ 1,000-point club in her final game. The senior finished with 15 points. She entered the game with 992 points.
Murray, recently named the Region 3-AA Offensive Player of the Year in voting by coaches, reached the mark with a free throw. She finished her career with 1,007 points becoming the eighth Lady Bear in the 1,000-point club.
Murray County scored the first 28 points in the first quarter, racing out to a 28-0 lead with Blaklee Ledford (four treys) scoring 16 of her game-high 29 points. The Lady Indians continued to add to their lead in the second period outscoring PCHS 20-9 with Finley Dotson (trey) accounting for nine of her 11 points for a commanding 48-9 halftime advantage.
With the starters still playing in the third period, Murray County tripled up the Lady Bears 18-6 for a 66-15 lead as starter Hadley Dotson (trey) netted 10 of her 16 points. In the “mercy rule” final stanza with all five starters still on the court, Ledford added to her point total scoring 10 points in a 16-4 run for the final margin.
Azalea Mobley and Saharah Minott had a basket apiece for the Lady Bears.
Murray County’s four sophomores accounted for 58 points and six of the seven three-point baskets. Senior Callan Ledford (trey) added 12 points.
