McGill-Toolen 67, Murphy 55: Yellow Jackets roll to Class 7A, Area 2 title

Paris Chambers scored 15 points, T.J. Howard 13, and Deion Dozier 10 as Class 7A No. 6 McGill-Toolen dominated No. 7 Class 7AMurphy Saturday evening on the road, winning 67-55 to take home the Area 2 championship.

Murphy’s Tamarco McDuffie had a game-high 22 points and Cameron Grepke added 10 points.

Both teams now head to the South Regional in Dothan next week as McGill (27-4) takes onDavidson (7-18) at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday while Murphy (22-7) gets to face No. 4 Class 7ATheodore (26-4) at 10:30 a.m.

"We played the most solid game we've played all year long tonight," said McGill coach Phillip Murphy. "The players went out there and did a great job executing our game plan. I think we showed a lot of people tonight that we're one of the best teams in the state."

McGill now hasn't lost since a mid-January loss at home to Murphy.

"I'm proud of our kids, we expected this to be a rebuilding year but they proved me wrong," said Murphy. "I really think this team has what it takes to win a state championship."

The area title by the Yellow Jackets was their fourth in the last five years.

McGill struck fast, taking a 17-9 lead at the end of the opening quarter and going up 32-15 at halftime.

By the end of the third quarter, the Yellow Jackets were ahead 47-30.

Now, McGill looks to regionals where Davidson has been a dangerous team, having upset Baker in the Class 7A Area 1 tournament.

"We scouted them out last night when they were beaten by Theodore in the area finals," said Murphy. "We're going to have to be ready for them. Davidson is going to come out fighting."