Taped on the outside of the Legacy boys baskeball team's locker room is a sheet of paper. It's a print out of the top Class 4A team defenses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
At the top is none other than Legacy. The Broncos hold opposing teams to just under 43 points per game entering this week. It's the defense that has helped propel Legacy to an eight-game winning streak and atop the District 15-4A standings."We always talk about guarding people and (how) defense wins championships," coach Marchie Murdock said.Legacy's defense has been on a tear as of late. Just in the last week, the Broncos held a high-flying and explosive Lancaster team to just 40 points and then Red Oak to just 37 points on Saturday.In the 61-37 blowout win against Red Oak on Friday, Legacy held Red Oak's leading scorer, Andrew Wallace, to just 13 points - three below his season average.No other Red Oak player sniffed double figures with the Broncos defense forcing Red Oak into tough shots and turnovers.Legacy has only allowed one team to score more than 50 points against its defense. That was way back in the Broncos' first meeting with Lancaster and the team's first district matchup, a 62-52 loss for Legacy.Since then, no other team has scored more than Arlington Seguins' 45 points against Legacy earlier in the month. In seven of Legacy's nine district games, the Broncos have held opponents to 40 points or less."We're leading the Metroplex in defense," guard Brett Potter said. "Our help defense is key, taking charges and doing whatever it takes."With Legacy's defense leading the way, the offense hasn't had to do too much. The Broncos share the ball and don't rely on a dominant scorer like some other teams do.Marchie Murdock Jr., has been the team's leading scorer so far while also playing high-level defense. Murdock Jr. has an all-around game - he can get to the rim and pull up and score in the midrange area.In Legacy's last few wins, Murdock Jr. has had a hard time getting off clean looks as teams start to shift their defenses toward him. That's where Potter has stepped up this season.Potter leads the team in three-point field goals made and has led Legacy in scoring in three of its last four games.He scored 14 in Legacy's win against Lancaster and 12 in Legacy's 40-38 win against Summit earlier in the month."We've got to knock down free throws," Potter said about how Legacy can finish the season strong. "Knock down free throws and keep our defense up, and I think we'll be good."Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
