MURPHYSBORO (WSIL)-- The chance to play in the state finals - that is what's at stake for the Murphysboro basketball team Tuesday night. The Red Devils have made an impressive run in the postseason.
"Our goal was just to win regionals, but I mean we messed around and won sectionals too, so we might as well go the whole way," said senior Jamarr McZeke.
Head Coach Daryl Murphy is calling this team the underdogs.
"We have been just because southern Illinois basketball is always so strong, and you have two Goliaths in Pinckneyville and Nashville and rated very high in state," said Murphy. "We thought it would be awful tough to get to the point were at."
With two huge wins over 5th and 6th ranked teams in the state, I asked coach how he would describe this postseason run.
"We've caught lightning in a bottle," said Murphy.
"We have nothing to lose," said senior Jameirr Frazier. "We just got to go all the way now. We don't want to look back. We're done looking back. It's time to go all the way.
This group is an athletic bunch, comprised of a quarterback, running back, and defensive lineman all apart of the historic football team that took second in state this past season. But after the season ended, they were quick to switch gears right to basketball.
"When they were coming home Saturday night from the state tournament in football, they called me and told me they wanted to practice that night at 5:30," said Murphy. "So, I met them here when they got off the bus, and we came in and practiced. Then on Sunday, we handed out uniforms, and Monday we started playing."
"I think it's just us wanting it more than ever," said senior Dezmond Clark. "I think it's just we want to go out with a bang and make as big of an impact on this community as we can."
Their hard work is paying off. Tuesday, they take on Breese Mater Dei in the super sectionals. But for these seniors it's about the chance to play another game in Red Devil uniform.
"I've been playing with these dudes since I first picked up a basketball," said Frazier. "There is definitely going to be a place in my heart for it. I love the sport, but I'm going to live it right now while I can."
"These guys, I grew up with them forever," said Clark. "I love them to death. I would do anything for them and it's like just being able to play with them and continue to play with them. I'm fighting for them and their fighting for me, so we just want to keep going as long as we can."
Murphysboro takes on Breese Mater Dei at 7:30 p.m. inside the Banterra Center at SIU.
