The varsity girls basketball team continued their winning ways as they defeated two more Oakland Activities Association White Division teams last week.
Junior Miranda Murphy provided 13 points and 12 rebounds for Oxford during a 39-36 victory over Troy on Friday, Jan. 13.
Oxford led 8-7 after the first quarter and 21-15 at halftime.
Troy clamped down defensively in the third quarter, holding Oxford to five points in the quarter while managing to tie the game at 26.
However, the Wildcats were able to outlast the Colts in the fourth quarter and walk away with the victory.
‘It wasn’t pretty, but it was a win,? varsity coach Steve Emert said. ‘It was a tough game because they played very good defense and we struggled offensively a little bit in the paint.?
The saving grace for the Wildcats was their free-throw shooting, where they went 21-27 (78 percent).
‘We spend 15 minutes a night shooting free-throws, so we’ve been pretty successful the last couple of nights at the line,? Emert said.
Oxford’s victory over Troy was preceded by a 61-49 victory over Birmingham Groves on Tuesday, Jan. 10.
The score appeared a lot closer than the game was as the Wildcats managed to build a 18 point lead by the end of the third quarter.
‘We started out good defensively. We took the lead up to 20 points, and we let it slip back a little bit, and I take the blame for that,? Emert admitted. ‘I put us in a not to lose mode instead of a play to win mode…they made a little run at us to cut it to seven, but the girls stepped it up and finished it off.?
Freshmen Jessica Murphy had 19 points to lead the Wildcats, while junior Shelby Davis had 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The Wildcats currently sit at 5-6 overall, and 3-2 in the OAA White.
‘We’re…still in the hunt for the division title, and that was what we were looking for,? Emert said. ‘We got a big ball game coming up this Thursday against Rochester, and next week against Lake Orion, and that finishes the first round in the White division.?
The girls battle Rochester at home on Thursday, Jan. 19 before traveling down to Lake Orion on Tuesday, Jan. 24.
Tip-off for the Rochester game is at 7 p.m.
‘Our goal is to finish out strong on the first round and step up and go into the second round and see how the chips fall,? Emert added. ‘They are getting stronger every day in what they are doing and are believing in their teammates everyday.?