If you add up the totals from three of the four quarters, Caldwell County and Murray played dead even at 62-62 Monday afternoon.
However, Caldwell endured a miserable second quarter.
Leading 22-21 after one period, Caldwell was held without a point for the first 5:44 of the second stanza at the CAB gym.
Meanwhile, visiting Murray went on a 21-0 run to seize the upper hand. Murray wound up with a 28-5 advantage in the frame, and went on to win by that 23-point margin, 90-67.
Murray’s big run turned in a one-point deficit into a 42-22 lead with less than 3 minutes to go in the first half.
Mitchell Phelps finally broke Caldwell’s dry spell with a 3-pointer with 2:16 left in the half. But Murray got to the break with a 49-27 advantage.
Caldwell, now 3-3, played Murray even in the second half, but could never make a run to try to narrow the gap.
Murray (6-2) got 28 points from Harris Moore and another 22 from Maddox Mitchell. Haden Parker added 13.
Caldwell was led by Daelyn Lander’s 19 points. Pax Aikins and Jack Roach each totaled 14 points. Ari Wells had 10 rebounds to go with six points.
Murray has taken seven of the 11 meetings all-time between the two schools.
Caldwell will play at home again on Tuesday afternoon, facing Allen County-Scottsville. It will be the first meeting between the Tigers and the Patriots in almost 23 years.
Murray 21 28 25 16 — 90
Caldwell County 22 5 22 18 — 67
Murray (6-2)—Moore 28, Mitchell 22, Parker 13, Bomar 6, Cunningham 6, Lovett 5, Acreman-Nyamwala 4, Howell 2, Patterson 2, Walls 2.
Caldwell County (3-3)—Lander 19, Aikins 14, Roach 14, Thomas 6, Wells 6, D. Wilson 5, Phelps 3.
