Losses continue for Murray girls hoop

It has been said that losses make teams hungrier to win.

If that’s the case, Murray High’s girls basketball team must be starving after losing its first 10 games of the season for the third consecutive year.

The Spartans were 0-10 as of our press deadline, averaging only 29 points per game and allowing opponents 52. Murray had lost 14 consecutive games dating back to last season. This year, the Spartans have lost to Northridge 45-31, East 50-40, Clearfield 45-29, Copper Hills 62-27, Jordan 62-45, Taylorsville 59-28, Cyprus 66-24, Cottonwood 50-18, Highland 38-34 and Kearns 42-15.

Irma Agovic, Sofia Goeckeritz and Alyse Horton were each averaging six points per game, and Kayla Durfey has averaged four points thus far for the Spartans.

Horton and Durfey each scored 12 points against East, while Agovic made two 3-pointers and had nine points and Goeckeritz six. Murray trailed only 24-21 at halftime and 33-28 after three quarters, but couldn’t make up more ground in the fourth quarter.

Goeckeritz had 10 points and Agovic seven against Clearfield, which led 24-10 at halftime. Agovic had 10 points, Horton six and Durfey three in the loss to Copper Hills. The Grizzlies jumped out to a 34-15 halftime lead and led 46-23 into the fourth quarter.

Murray’s offense caught fire against Jordan, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Beetdiggers. Goeckeritz had 14 points, Agovic 10, Horton seven, Iasia Bell five and Jordan Strah four. Jordan led 36-20 at halftime. Horton paced Murray with 12 points against Taylorsville. Goeckeritz added six points, as the Warriors led 34-8 at halftime and 55-12 after three quarters.

Durfey scored six points to lead the Spartans against Cyprus. Agovic, Goeckeritz and Lexie Davies each had four points, as Murray trailed 36-11 at halftime and 44-15 into the fourth. Horton scored seven points, Davies five and Strah and Ashley Parker three apiece in the loss to Cottonwood. The Colts raced out to a 31-8 halftime lead and led 40-10 after three quarters.

Murray’s best chance of winning thus far came against Highland. The Rams led 19-15 at halftime and 29-28 into the fourth quarter, where they outscored the Spartans 9-6. Horton had nine points, Agovic six, Davies five and Christal Milne four. Goeckeritz had five points, Milne four and Durfey three in the loss to Kearns. Murray trailed 27-12 at halftime and was outscored 15-3 in the second half.

Murray was scheduled to host West Jordan on Jan. 6 before opening region Jan. 10 at Olympus.