Murphy ‘setting the standard’ for Carlisle

She’s a gym rat who wants to be in the gym every day, her coach says.

High school sports results for May 26
5/26/12
Wayne boys win team track title
5/25/12
Bellbrook tennis duo advances to semifinals
5/25/12
Jefferson grad takes lessons from Miami Heat cousin
5/25/12
T-Bolts excited for state debut
5/25/12
> More high school headlines

By John Bombatch, Staff Writer Updated 7:58 AM Wednesday, February 2, 2011

CARLISLE — Whether it’s her current teammates or future generations of Carlisle Indians, junior point guard Alexis Murphy enjoys setting an example for everyone else to follow.

“Every time I play basketball, I lay it all on the line,” said Murphy, a three-year starter. “I love this sport and try to play every game as if it could be my last.”

Murphy is an all-around player, not just an on-court quarterback at point guard. She averages 15.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.9 steals per game.

“It’s an honor to be able to coach such a talented athlete. She’s the hardest worker we have,” Carlisle coach Randy Glover said. “When you go to our practices and you see how hard she practices, it’s easy to see why she’s able to perform and play the way she does. She makes it fun to coach.”

Even on snow days when schools are closed, Glover knows Murphy will find a gym somewhere to work on her game.

“She’s a gym rat,” Glover said with a smile. “She wants to be in the gym every day. She even practices with the guys at the Atrium YMCA. I don’t like it, and hope that she’s careful and doesn’t get hurt, but she’d be working hard wherever she was.”

The hard work has paid off.

The Indians finished 11-11 when Murphy became the team’s point guard as a freshman. Last year they were 15-6, and they’re 13-3 this season. Before this season, it had been 16 years since Carlisle had recorded back-to-back winning seasons, Glover said.

Glover said Murphy has been doing a lot to inspire the middle school players, too.

“She’ll often work individually with the young girls,” Glover said. “The kids really look up to her.”

Murphy said she hopes to set the standard for future Indians. As a junior, she’s already ranked among the top 10 in career steals and assists at Carlisle.

“Playing Division I basketball someday is my number one goal. I’d like to someday become a lawyer. But helping Carlisle’s basketball program grow — to just get better every single year — that’s something I want to do, too,” she said. “I’m out to set the standard for these kids. Having these kids look up to me and my teammates, it’s the biggest joy in the world for me.”

Share this article