Murray Ledger & Times, November 15, 1973

 

Murray High Cagers Prepare For Season Opener With Lakers

 

By Jerry L. Bayne. Murray Ledger & Times​

 

The dribbles, drives, and cage hysteria begins in earnest on thousands of high school hardwood floors soon, and has already begun in several area schools.

 

Presently, there are no cheers, pretty cheerleaders or striped-shirted men with whistles filling the gymnasiums, only gruelling exhausting moans from perspiring strong-willed hopefuls.

 

At Murray High, Coach Bob Toon and company are hustling through the pre-season timetables of workouts preparing for the opener with sturdy Calloway County Nov. 30th.

 

“I’m optimistic about the year,” said Coach Toon, “we’ve got some good talent and our depth could make us a strong contender for the tournament.”

 

The Tigers will travel to Tilghman Saturday night to participate in an eight-team “Tornado Jamboree”.  The tournament is divided into 15-minute quarters with Murray squaring off against Tilghman at 6:30.  Mayfield will tangle with Reidland in the second, Lone Oak will clash with Fulton City in the third, and Heath and North Marshall will meet in the fourth.  General admission tickets are 75 cents.

 

The Tigers aren’t a big ballclub but their quickness and shooting ability spark their offense. 

 

Posting a 12-10 record last season, Coach Toon believes “we must improve our defense, we weren’t good on defense last year.”

 

Seniors Tyrone McCuiston, Danny Hudspeth, Glenn Jackson, and Ray Lane will be the backbone of the Tigers.

 

Injuries are a key too. as McCuiston missed last season due to a knee injury.  As a sophomore, 6-2 McCuiston averaged a little better than 13 points a game, playing with a knee-strap.  If McCuiston can find his mobility and range, the Tigers front-court with McCuiston and Hudspeth will improve over last season’s credits.

 

Jackson and Lane have been bandaged up during pre-season practice.  Jackson is recovering from a pulled groin while Lane has a fractured hand.

 

Jackson and Lane, both 5-11, scored in double figures for Murray last season with each averaging nearly 14 points a game.  This combination in the backcourt will combine for one of the toughest scoring duos around.

 

Hudspeth headed last season’s rebounding attack with over 11 caroms a game.  Also scoring just a bit over 11 points a game, Hudspeth connected on a sizzling 66 percent of his shots from the field.

 

“I’m expecting leadership and super performances  out of my seniors,” Toon said, “we’ll go as they go.”

 

Also vying for starting positions are senior Johnny Shelley, juniors Phil Miller and Dale McCuiston, and sophomore Bob Wilder.  With his depth, Coach Toon anticipates substituting freely.

 

Rounding out the 20-man varsity-junior varsity are juniors Eli Alexander, Mark Williams, and Dwaine Musgrow, with sophomores David Frank Lindy Suiter, Robbie Hibbard, Keith Tabers, Donnie Williams, Tod Harrison, Kim Grogan, Chris Kurz, and Dean Lampkins.

 

“This year there are lots of good clubs, no pushovers in our league, we’re taking them one at a time.  Right now we’re looking for one game--Calloway.”

 

“Some of our freshmen may be playing B-team as the season progresses,” said Toon.

 

MURRAY HIGH SCHEDULE

 

Nov. 30            Calloway                    Home

Dec 4               Trigg Co.                    Home

Dec. 7              Tilghman                     Away

Dec. 11            Carlisle Co.                 Away

Dec. 14            Cairo, Ill                       Home

Dec. 19-22      Mayfield Invitational

Jan. 4              Hickman Co.               Home

Jan. 8              S. Marshall                  Away

Jan.11             Fancy Farm                Home

Jan. 15            Benton                         Home

Jan. 18            Mayfield                      Away

Jan. 22            Farmington                  Home             

Jan. 25            Sedalia                        Home

Jan. 29            S. Marshall                  Home

Feb. 1              Ballard Co.                  Away

Feb. 8              N. Marshall                  Away

Feb. 12            Benton                         Away

Feb. 15            Calloway                     Away

Feb. 19            Mayfield                      Home

Feb. 22            Fulton Co.                   Home