Two more Crowder basketball players sign

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June 9, 2012

Two more Crowder basketball players sign

By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer The Joplin Globe Sat Jun 09, 2012, 12:19 AM CDT

Two more Crowder College sophomores have signed scholarship agreements in basketball for the 2012-13 campaign.

They are 5-foot-7 Taylor Murphy, a graduate of Rogers (Ark.) High School, and 6-1 Tamires de Souza of Sao Paulo (Brazil) Escoteco Ideal. They join 5-7 Jordan Hunter of Auckland (New Zealand) Saint Kentigern College.

Hunter, who sparked the Neosho-based ’Lady Riders to a 23-9 record, already had been announced as signing with NCAA Division I Southeast Missouri State of the Ohio Valley Conference.

De Souza and Murphy have signed with NAIA Division I Lyon College (Batesville, Ark.) and NCAA Division III University of Texas-Tyler, respectively.

Robbins said both post de Souza and guard Murphy started several games during their career at Crowder.

Murphy, who sank 38 treys, averaged 6.6 points and 2.1 rebounds. She also totaled 45 assists and 35 steals. De Souza, who shot 80 percent from the foul line, averaged 3.8 points and 2.3 rebounds.

Hunter, who hit 50 treys and shot 86.3 percent from the charity stripe, paced the team in scoring (13.3), total assists (165) and total steals (73). She added 4.4 rebounds. The free-throw percentage and assists average (5.3) ranked seventh and 24th, respectively, in NJCAA Division I.

Said Robbins: “I believe Lyon (for de Souza) and Texas-Tyler (for Murphy) are good fits for those players. Both girls have an opportunity to go in and earn immediate playing time.”

Texas-Tyler has a new head coach, Kevin Baker, Robbins said. He’s been the top assistant at West Texas A&M for the past five years.

Lyon finished 20-12 overall last season under Tracy Stewart-Lange They lost 59-57 to Westmont (Calif.) in the first round of nationals.

Ty Marganthaler is entering his second year at Southeast Missouri State, Robbins said.

“I’m also very excited for Jordan (Hunter),” Robbins said. “They worked extremely hard at Crowder. I’m confident they will have a huge impact for their respective teams on and off the court.

“Jordan (Hunter) is on the (12-member) New Zealand National Team,” Robbins said. “The group currently is touring China and will go to Turkey (June 25-July 1) to compete with 11 other teams for five Olympic spots.”

Robbins said the other Crowder veterans — 6-1 Kayla Thaman (Joplin), 5-6 Hannah Ritter (Jay) and 5-5 Lakedra Brown (Olive Branch, Miss.) — aren’t planning to continue playing competitive basketball.

Brown has entered the military, Robbins said. Injuries hampered transfers Ritter (back) and Thaman (shoulder), Robbins said.