OREM — At the start of the 2007-08 girls basketball season, Murray High didn't know who it would have to surround star senior Shay Kennedy, the team's lone returning letterman.
Just three months later, however, the Spartans have gone from having one star and not much else to having one star and a solid supporting cast.
That much was on display during Murray's 4A opening-round tilt against Dixie Tuesday afternoon inside the McKay Events Center.
Kennedy scored Murray's first six points and finished with a team-high 14, but she had plenty of assistance to help the Spartans get out of the first round. Kennedy, Ame White and Prasella Mate Mate all drained huge shots in the fourth quarter as Murray emerged with a 39-36 come-from-behind win over Dixie.
Murray will meet Timpview in the quarterfinals at SLCC today, beginning at 2:30 p.m.
When asked to talk about his team's progression this year, first-year coach Issachar Beh quickly heaped praise on his players. Aside from the three shot-makers, Beh pointed out, girls such as Amy Murakami, Christie Beck and Jessica Langford all made critical contributions Tuesday.
That confidence was there for all to see throughout the fourth quarter of Murray's first-round game.
The Spartans trailed by four points, 31-27, with just over three minutes to go and seemed to be in trouble. However, they came up with big shots down the stretch.
First, Kennedy drained a three-pointer to pull Murray within a point with 3:15 remaining. Less then a minute later, Mate Mate poured in another three to put the Spartans in front.
After a field goal by Dixie's Lindsay Benham closed the Flyers' deficit to within a point during the final minute, Mate Mate drilled another three-pointer to help ice the game.
Considering that Mate Mate was at her uncle's wedding in Las Vegas over the weekend and didn't get home until around 2 a.m. Tuesday morning, her performance in the first round was particularly impressive.
"For her to come out and play like that is stupendous," said Beh.
The Spartans played well enough throughout the opening three quarters but sometimes couldn't make shots. However, their defense kept them in the game.
Dixie forward Lakell Havens led the Flyers offensively with 13 points, but Murray's tenacious inside-oriented defense held her to just two free throws in the second half.
"They did everything we asked them to defensively," said Beh.
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