Whenever the New Trier girls basketball team needed a bucket against Glenbrook South, it was usually delivered by a Murdock.
The Murdock twins, Cate and Maggie, combined for 21 points to lead New Trier to a 44-33 Central Suburban South victory on Dec. 14 in Winnetka.
Glenbrook South (8-3, 2-2) was within five points twice in the second half, and both times the Murdock twins responded with a quick 5-0 run. New Trier (11-1, 3-1) was up 19-14 at half and Cate Murdock hit a 3-pointer on a set play to begin the third quarter. Maggie Murdock scored on a layup soon after to make it 24-14.
When the Titans made a run at the end of the quarter to pull to within 30-25, Cate Murdock opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer and later followed with a basket to push the margin back to 10.
“I think just taking charge and wanting the ball in those situations and being composed,” New Trier coach Teri Rodgers said of the Murdocks, who are seniors. “Saying, ‘Hey give me the ball, I’m going to make a basket and if I get fouled I’m going to make the free throws.’ Just the ability to want the ball in the big moment, which is huge.”
Cate Murdock, who scored 10 points in the game, said having the confidence to take important shots for her team didn’t come naturally.
“That’s something I’ve always wanted to have. I want to be a leader on the team and make those shots,” Cate Murdock said in a phone interview. “I’ve worked really hard for it, to be where I can be comfortable having the ball in those situations.”
More Top Picks Best Shooting Benches
The Murdocks spent time on the varsity squad as sophomores, but neither netted much playing time on a senior-laden Trevians squad that featured McDonald’s All-American Jeannie Boehm. In the two years since, the Murdocks have improved vastly and a lot of their growth can be attributed to one another.
“We’ve been playing one-on-one against each other our entire lives,” Maggie Murdock said. “We’ve always been practicing together. And playing one-on-one is really good practice for both of us, because we’re pretty even obviously, so it helps both of us. We’ve always been able to have someone to practice with.”
The Murdocks, who are Glencoe residents, are known as quality shooters. It helps when you have someone to rebound for you at all times, Maggie Murdock noted. They spent the offseason developing other parts of their game.
Maggie Murdock said she’s taken her biggest strides as a defender.
“I feel like in the last few years I’ve gotten a lot better at driving and getting stronger and being able to take the contact,” Cate Murdock said. “I think that’s probably the biggest improvement I’ve had.”
Their life-long experience playing together is conducive to setting one another up, Maggie Murdock said.
“On offense, if one of us drives we can find the other one for a pass,” said Maggie Murdock, who had 11 points against Glenbrook South. “You just kind of know where the other one is going to be, just because we’ve been playing together so much.”
New Trier will play next in the Dundee-Crown tournament, which begins Dec. 26 in Carpentersville.
Brett Christie is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press