Maurice Murray powers Timber Creek basketball past Paul VI

In the first game of his senior season, Maurice Murray had two points in the first half.

He had seven points after three quarters.

"I wasn't frustrated," Murray said. "I started off slow, a little cold, missed a few shots. But I'm a senior now, and I know
I have to keep my head."

Murray seized command in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of his 22 in the final eight minutes to lead Timber Creek to a 59-
51 victory over Paul VI on Saturday in a highlight game of the Jimmy V Classic at Cherokee.

Senior Isaiah Sanders scored 14, and junior Shawn Miller bounced off the bench to make a few key plays in the fourth quarter
for Timber Creek (1-0), the No. 12 team in the Inquirer preseason Top 25.

Junior swingman Tyshon Judge scored 18 points with 13 rebounds, and junior forward Hartnel Haye scored 17 with 13 rebounds for No. 16 Paul VI (0-1).

"One of our goals today was playing through our mistakes, and we did that," Paul VI coach Tony Devlin said. "We're young, and
we're inexperienced, and that showed at times. We missed a lot of foul shots, and that really hurt us."

Paul VI got a lift from freshmen Jordany Pierre (eight points) and Wisler Sannon (six points) in building a lead as large
as 34-22 midway in the third quarter.

Paul VI missed its first 10 free throws in the fourth quarter and finished 6 for 19 from the line in the final eight
minutes. Down 48-45, the Eagles missed five foul shots on consecutive possessions.

"If they make their free throws, it's a different game," Timber Creek coach Rich Bolds said.

The Chargers got strong work over the first three quarters from Sanders, a 6-foot-4 swingman. Sanders fouled out midway in
the fourth quarter.

Timber Creek also got a boost from Miller, a 6-foot junior and transfer from Delcastle Technical High School in Wilmington,
Del. Miller scored both of his baskets on drives in the fourth quarter and provided the Chagers with an extra ball handler
to combat the Eagles' pressure.

"Having him out there helped a lot," Bolds said of Miller. "He gave us some quickness on the defensive end and handled the
ball for us as well."

Sanders and Murray fueled Timber Creek's rally from a 12-point deficit as the Chargers closed the third quarter on a 13-2
run.

"I picked up my intensity on the defensive end in the second half, got steals, tipped balls," said Murray, a 6-foot-7 swingman. "My offense starts at the defensive end. If I get steals, a couple assists, everybody will key on my teammates, that opens up things for me.

"Everybody is going to key in on me. If I get my teammates involved, it will help me out."

Murray is a three-year starter and one of the state's most talented players. He has drawn recruiting interest from major
college programs, including Maryland.

Murray averaged 24.8 points as a junior. So it was disconcerning to Bolds to see his star player with two points at the
break.

"I don't want to tell you what we said at halftime," Bolds said. "He can't be settling. He can't lack energy for us. He has
to be the engine."

Murray warmed up in the third quarter and hit the gas pedal in the fourth. He finished the game with a flourish, scoring
seven in the final 40 seconds.

In the fourth quarter alone, Murray was 5 for 7 from the field and 4 for 4 from the foul line, with two steals and four
rebounds.

"The fourth quarter is something I like to call, 'Money time,' " Murray said. "It's money time. Win or go home.

"I understood the ball has to be in my hands in the fourth quarter, and I have to score to win."

Paul VI                     11   12    13    15   —   51

Timber Creek           9    10     16    24   —   59

P: Tyshon Judge 18, Hartnel Haye 17, Jordany Pierre 8, Wiskler Sannon 6, Gilbert Frias 2.

TC: Maurice Murray 22, Isaiah Sanders 14, Ricky Martin 7, Dylan Elliott 7, Tim Schultice 2, Shawn Miller 4, Kylon Lott 3.