Retooling a state championship contender year after year is a tough task for any high school basketball team, but having talent rise through the system significantly helps that process.
That’s why the emergence of Kendall Anne Murphy has been huge for Coach Justin Underwood and the Lady Bulldogs this season.
“She has worked extremely hard over the past couple years, and her game has become much more well rounded,” Coach Underwood said. “She has become more and more important to our system throughout her time with us.
“She brings so much versatility and strength to the floor.”
Murphy and the Lady Bulldogs host Karns in a region tournament quarterfinal Friday night at 7, the first of two elimination rounds in the tournament.
Murphy has routinely been one of the top scorers from game to game for the Lady Bulldogs this season, highlighting how much the system has changed since the departure of 2023 Miss Basketball Avery Treadwell.
Then-freshman point guard Natalya Hodge and Treadwell (now a freshman post player at Florida State) were a dangerous inside-out combo a year ago. Bearden still has weapons in the paint, but this year’s guards are asked to carry a larger share of the scoring load.
“Last year, when our two main scorers were Avery and Natalya, we could always count on one of them to score, but this year we have to depend on everyone more,” Murphy said. “We aren’t as tall as last year, so that has changed how we play.
“I have had to become much more vocal on the court, and I have had to learn how to communicate with everyone much better.”
Murphy’s ability to communicate and be vocal with her teammates on the court is something that Coach Underwood has appreciated as the season has progressed.
“We want our juniors to be big encouragers, and Kendall Anne has done a phenomenal job of that,” Coach Underwood said. “She has been a voice of encouragement and positivity, and I think that has helped some of the girls when they haven’t had the best night shooting or are in foul trouble.”
Along with the growth of her leadership skills, Murphy has developed this past season as a threat on the offensive side of the ball, something that has stuck out to her teammates, as well as coaches.
“Kendall has grown a lot this season in both her talent and basketball IQ,” senior forward Lindsay Wilson said. “She has always been a great defensive player, but this year her role has definitely formed into being a huge part of our offense. She puts in a ton of work and it has paid off very well for her.”
On Monday, the Lady Bulldogs avenged their lone district loss of the season against Farragut by beating the Lady Admirals 41-32 to secure their fifth straight district tournament championship. Hodge, Murphy, Aisha Patel, and Rachel Wilhoit were all named to the all tournament team, with Hodge being named MVP.
A win Friday would send Bearden to a region semifinal at home on Monday against the winner of Campbell Co. and Maryville. The final is Wednesday at 7.
“Really, we just need to be playing at our best and be prepared for anything if we want to go further into this postseason,” Murphy said.