EVERETT — At times on Tuesday the Archbishop Murphy offense was simple: Get the ball to Conner Longoria or Josh Parafina.
The Murphy duo combined for 46 points as the Wildcats earned a 79-63 2A District 1 Tournament win over Cedarcrest to keep their season alive and end the Red Wolves’.
The 79 points were a season-high for the Wildcats.
“I thought it was the best we played overall in a few weeks,” Murphy head coach Jamar Williams said. “We really shared the ball on the offensive end … and our guys stayed committed to not allow the ball to stick on one side (of the court).”
In the first half Parafina benefitted from the excellent ball movement. The sophomore guard scored 17 points during that timeframe and made all three of his 3-pointers in the second quarter.
Longoria then took control in the third quarter, putting up 15 of Archbishop Murphy’s 24 points, as the Wildcats extended a five-point lead to a 12-point cushion.
“It was Josh in the first half and our guys did a great job to give him the ball,” Williams said. “Longoria got into the flow in the third quarter and he made great decisions whether to attack or to share.”
Jordan Corpus led the Red Wolves with 22 points, but despite the production, Williams felt his team executed the game plan to slow down the Cedarcrest star.
“We needed to help on Corpus, he’s a tough player,” Williams said. “He likes to drive and we had to have another body to help on pick-and-rolls … but he had to work really hard to get those 22 points.”
With the win, Archbishop Murphy advances to play Sehome in a consolation semifinal on Thursday at 8 p.m. at Mount Vernon H.S.
At Archbishop Murphy H.S.
Cedarcrest 13 20 17 12 — 63
Arch. Murphy 20 18 24 17 — 79
Cedarcrest—Kyle Walsh 4, Andrew Gutmann 3, Adam Davenport 7, Nick Peden 10, Austin Paxman 12, Jordan Corpus 22, Anthony Ditore 0, Chad Klingenberg 0, Chase Cardon 0. Archbishop Murphy—Abe Lucas 4, D’Andre Bryant 6, Connor Sand 2, Nolan Rogge 7, Chase White 6, Conner Longoria 25, Josh Parafina 21, Ben Thacker 3, Connor Simmons 0, Yannick Kwesele 0, Anfernee Gurley 5. 3-point goals—Gutmann, Peden 2, Paxman 3, Corpus, Rogge 2, White, Parafina 3, Thacker, Gurley. Records—Cedarcrest 11-11 overall. Archbishop Murphy 11-11.
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