Mike Murphy started his high school basketball coaching career at Southern California Christian.
The Flames won three games in that 1990-91 season. They won six games the following season.
“So it never dawned on me that I would win 700 games,” Murphy said this week.
Murphy got his 700th win Saturday when the Raiders defeated Colony 53-52 in the North Orange County Championships fifth-place game.
He is only the second Orange County boys basketball coach to get to 700 wins. Mater Dei’s Gary McKnight was at 1,217 wins entering this week.
Three other Orange County coaches surpassed 600 wins, according to CalHiSports.com. They are Jim Harris (Ocean View), 665; Jerry DeBusk (Newport Harbor, Santa Margarita), 636; and Tom Danley (Katella), 618.
Murphy, 65, has had many All-County and All-CIF players on his Sonora teams over the years, including Daniel Esparza, Ben Jones, Josh Rodriguez and Chris St. Clair. Murphy said assistant coaches Mark McGarry and Jason Stein have contributed much to the 700 wins.
“I’ve had some great players and I’ve been able to be around some great people at Sonora,” he said. “I’m very fortunate to be here.”
Murphy has another good team this season. The Raiders have two quick senior guards, Ernest Love and Yoda Oke, and they will add to their depth when transfers become eligible Dec. 26. The Raiders (7-4) are ranked No. 17 in the Orange County Top 25.
Sonora will be contenders for the championship of the Freeway League, which should be very competitive this season. The league includes Buena Park (5-6 record), Fullerton (7-5), La Habra (8-2), Sunny Hills (8-2) and Troy (8-4).
NOTES
No. 2 Canyon lost to La Serna 55-50 in the championship game of the North Orange County Championships. Capistrano Valley defeated Fountain Valley 49-38 in the tournament’s third-place game. …
Orange County players selected to the North Orange County Championships all-tournament team: Yoda Oke, Sonora; Efe Gucoglu, Capistrano Valley; JJ Gray, Fountain Valley; Brandon Benjamin, Canyon; and Jaden Goodall, Canyon. …
Foothill won the consolation championship of the Beach Bash. The Knights (8-1), ranked No. 10 in Orange County, beat No. 14 Newport Harbor (7-4) 54-50 in the consolation final. The Knights lost to San Clemente in the first round before beating Calvary Chapel and Corona del Mar in subsequent rounds. …
The Loara Varsity Tournament is Wednesday through Saturday at Loara. Wednesday’s schedule in the pool-play event: Santiago vs. Pacifica, 5 p.m.; Yorba Linda vs. Anaheim, 6:30 p.m. The tournament championship game is Saturday at 4 p.m. …
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The Cal High Basketball Tournament, at California High in Whittier, started Monday and continues Wednesday with Corona del Mar vs. California at 3:15 p.m., Fountain Valley vs. Kennedy at 6:15 p.m. and Esperanza vs. Huntington Beach at 7:45 p.m. …
The schedule Wednesday includes Cypress at No. 2 Canyon and No. 19 Laguna Hills at No. 20 Trabuco Hills. On Friday, No. 11 Los Alamitos is at No. 25 San Juan Hills and No. 10 Foothill is at Tustin in a fine neighborhood game. …
The Tarkanian Classic starts Monday in Las Vegas. County teams competing in that event are Crean Lutheran, JSerra, Mater Dei and Santa Margarita.
