MEGHAN MURRAY
Hampton
Murray posted a career-best 30 points on Monday to help the Talbots to a 60-57 win over Butler in a non-section matchup.
Check this out: Murray was overshadowed a bit last season because of the plethora of talented players in Class 5A, but the 5-foot-5 junior guard was still first team all-section after averaging 15.6 points per game during the regular season. She already has college offers from Niagara and Mercyhurst.
When you put up a 30-spot on a team, what goes through your mind when you see the book? Honestly, I’m not really sure because I just try to get buckets for our team. Down the stretch, it was close and I really needed to score. I really don’t pay attention to that. I just know what the team needs, whether we need assists or to drive and attack and shoot.
What goes into your thought process as far as what you’re looking at when a school is recruiting you? I’m looking for a university that feels like a second home because I’m going to be there for the next four years of my life. I’m also looking for a university that fits my playing style so I can have an easier transition than if it had a different playing style than what I’m used to.
What got you into basketball? I have five older brothers and my dad (Pat) has coached almost all throughout our lives. I started out when I was like 4 years old, and I would go and practice with my dad’s team and play and practice with the boys. As I got to 3rd grade, he started coaching my school team and he also my AAU team, so I was really lucky to have him coach me throughout the years.
Wow! Five older brothers. How does that dynamic work? We all make fun of each other and, as we’ve gotten older, we’ve gotten a lot closer. My brother that’s closest to me (senior Brennan) is the point guard for the varsity and, when we were playing on the driveway, we would always fight and argue. It never ends up in a complete game because we always get mad at each other and it starts getting a little too intense.
How does having five older brothers fuel your competitiveness? It definitely taught me to be tougher. I would get hurt or fall and they would just tell me to get back up. It helped me to be a more aggressive player and stronger when taking it to the hoop. I feel like they helped me so much in little ways that some people might not notice.
Does that make it different when you play with the girls? My brothers are all super tall, so when I’m playing against them, when I go for a layup it will get blocked. When I play the girls, they’re all sort of my height. It’s also a faster pace with the boys and it helps me when I’m playing the girls.
What do you do for fun? I played lacrosse last year, but honestly, I just like to hang out with my family. This summer we would just sit outside around a fire and talk.
What did you like about lacrosse? I like that it’s honestly sort of like basketball. You have to pass and use our juke moves and the defense is kind of the same, but you have to use a stick. It also helped me stay in shape for AAU season.
What’s a song that gets you up for a game? I usually just go off a playlist, but I totally sing The National Anthem before the game. It helps me focus in and forget about the game for a second.
What are you streaming on Netflix? I was watching “Gossip Girl,” but then it got taken off. Now I’m watching “Wednesday.” I’m on the first couple of episodes.
With the holidays coming up, what’s a Christmas tradition you do every year? I always go over to my family friend Emma Rick’s house. She plays basketball with me and our families have been close since we were in like the 3rd grade. We just go over on Christmas Eve every year and we just go crazy.
— By Keith Barnes
ADAM BILINSKY
Norwin
The past week: Bilinsky scored 17 and 20 points in victories against Yough and Penn-Trafford last week.
Check this out: Bilinsky, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound senior, has developed into one of the top guards in WPIAL basketball. He averaged 17 points and made all-section last season, and he heads into Tuesday’s game averaging 22.5 points and 9 rebounds a game. He is shooting 62% from the floor and 59% (10 of 17) from 3-point range. He has helped Norwin to a 4-0 start. Bilinsky is a versatile player who has close to 800 career points. He has signed to play at NCAA Division II Mercyhurst.
Your average is up from last year. How are you better? Last year, a lot of my game would be around the basketball. I would shoot from 15 feet and in. Now my game has extended deeper. I shoot a lot more 3-pointers. I’m close to the 3-point attempts I took all of last season. I think I shot maybe 20-some last year.
You’re shooting almost 60 percent from 3-point range. You can’t keep that up, can you? We hope so. It would be nice. But teams are going to defend better as the season goes.
Wait a second. Not even Stephen Curry shoots close to 60% on 3-pointers. Yeah, but he also takes about four times as many 3’s as I take.
You have excellent leaping ability. Do you think you surprise some people with that.? Yeah. I mean, it came out of nowhere. After my freshman year, it was the COVID-19 year and my brother and I started lifting weights a lot. Like, two weeks after I started lifting, I was able to dunk a basketball. It was insane. It happened, like, overnight.
Is Norwin a sleeper team in Class 6A? One-hundred percent, yes.
So, should Norwin be ranked in the top five? We’d like to be. But once we beat a couple teams, we should be in the top five.
You used to play with your brother, Ty, who had to stop playing a few years ago because of a stroke and then a blood disorder. How is he these days? He’s doing well. He walked on at Pitt-Johnstown last year. He’s healthy now and playing a little bit this year.
If you were GM of the Brooklyn Nets, you’d do what? Trade Ben Simmons away. I do not think he’s a good basketball player. If you can’t shoot, I don’t know how you’re in the NBA.
Tell me something you want most for Christmas? Tickets to a Morgan Wallen concert. He’s a country singer and is coming to Pittsburgh this summer.
Well, maybe if someone reads this, you might get those tickets. I’d be the happiest person.
— Mike White
First Published: December 13, 2022, 9:26 p.m.