180 degrees of separation

By Josh Bowe Special to the News-Mirror

Coach Marchie Murdock understands why his boys basketball team is receiving buzz, even after a week has passed since the Broncos' 47-45 upset against Arlington Seguin on the road.

Legacy has 20 wins, a 7-1 record in District 15-4A and perhaps the most impressive district win of any Class 4A team in the area when Legacy took down top-ranked Seguin. Murdock's happy about that win, but he's also honest with himself - he's happy after any win this season.

"We're trying to forget about (the Seguin game), I know it's news," Murdock said. "Anytime you can get a win, it's great. For us, any win is a good win after you only win nine the previous year. After winning nine out of 30 games, any win is a good win.

"We're happy to be at this point, to double our wins from last season. We are just trying to keep playing and plug along."

The Broncos are rebounding from a campaign last season that Murdock said was especially rough. That team featured a lot of younger players in new roles. Now that those players are a year older, Murdock said that experience is where the results are coming from.

He also said that his players didn't want to go through another tough season - especially his seniors.

"Definitely, it was a tough year," he said. "Anytime things are not going right, the practices are bad and tension is high. It was a point of emphasis to try to turn that thing back around.

"It left a bad taste in their mouth."

The Broncos have responded accordingly. Legacy showed signs of its district rise early in the season. The Broncos hung tough with perennial powers of Class 5A in North Texas such as North Crowley and Duncanville.

Legacy opened the season with back-to-back wins against 5A schools Irving and Arlington Martin. After a stretch of 4A games, the Broncos then played Duncanville tough in a 46-26 loss that Murdock said was a lot closer than the score suggested.

Against North Crowley, Legacy held a lead and only lost by six. Between the Duncanville and North Crowley games, Murdock was convinced that his team was improved, despite both being losses.

District play didn't start off well, however. Legacy dropped a 62-52 decision to Lancaster in the 15-4A opener. But since that loss, the Broncos have ripped off six straight district games.

The last three have Murdock the most excited. Besides besting Seguin, Legacy beat Summit and Lake Ridge last week.

Murdock noted the Summit win was special because not only the quality of the opponent, but how his team came back from an early deficit. Summit led Legacy 17-4 after the first quarter.

"To claw your way back in it, and the only time you lead is with nine seconds left, it was a great feeling," Murdock said. "[Summit] played really, really well. They came out really strong. It's one of those games, you don't know how you do it.

"I'm happy to win an ugly game. Better to win ugly then play pretty good and lose."

Murdock's son, Marchie Murdock Jr., was the one who put Legacy on top with nine seconds remaining. Murdock Jr. sunk two free throws to give the Broncos their only lead of the night.

Murdock Sr. knew his son was the right player to make those foul shots. Murdock Jr. has been the Broncos' leader all season, transforming himself from a defensive role-player early on in his career to a do-it-all leader. Murdock Jr. still plays with the same defensive intensity but does more for Legacy than ever before, including scoring.

"If anybody is going be shooting (free throws), I'd like for him to be shooting," Murdock Sr., said. "A few years ago, we were playing Duncanville and they fouled him at the buzzer. He, as a 10th grader, hit all three free throws to go to overtime.

"He lives for that kind of moment, he just feels so confident. I'm happy when he goes to the line, he does a pretty good job."

But Murdock Jr's. scoring isn't all that's part of Legacy's turnaround. Murdock Sr. said it's been the team's focus on defense throughout the season.

"Everything starts on defensive end," Murdock Sr. said. "I think it was the defense got us amped up a little bit more. That made our shots fall. You get the defense going and it just gets the other part of your game going too."

That defense was showcased in a 47-36 win against Lake Ridge on Friday. The Broncos held the Eagles to just five combined points in the second and third quarters.

Now the Broncos are in unfamiliar territory as the favorites. Legacy holds the tiebreaker with the Seguin win to sit atop 15-4A. Instead of chasing the leader, the Broncos are on top for now.

Murdock Sr. said that just makes an already tough district all the more formidable. Teams are aware of Legacy now, he said. There's no more sneaking up on opponents.

"We have a big target," he said. "Anytime you're close to the top of the district race, everyone is going to play their best game against you. Every night you've got to play. We're starting to understand that."

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