Fayetteville coach says officials won't explain technicals after TSSAA state tournament loss

MURFREESBORO – A composed Chris Murdock walked into the media room Wednesday during the TSSAA BlueCross Boys Basketball State Championships on Wednesday following Fayetteville's 57-49 loss to Chattanooga Prep.

The Fayetteville basketball coach reminded team members Trey Willoughby and Isaiah Thomison to be respectful and think about the questions asked of them before being answered.

It came several minutes after Murdock had followed the game officials toward the corner of the gym floor as the referees exited the court after Fayetteville's Class 1A state quarterfinal loss.

Murdock told media members he still hadn't found out what happened during a four-point swing with 2:31 left when guard Camaurionn Taylor was called for a technical foul moments after he was called for a personal foul.

Murdock said he also didn't get an explanation on a technical foul called on his bench earlier in the game.

"It swung everything to them," said Murdock, on Chattanooga Prep's four straight free throws. "That's what, the fourth quarter? I got a technical for I don't know what. I haven't got an explanation yet. There are two points there. I think he hit them.

"There were a lot of swings that could have been avoided on the biggest stage of high school basketball. That was big momentum for them. We were riding right there and made some big plays. That's the adversity that I talked about that we had to play through."

Fayetteville led 47-46 when Chattanooga Prep's Ta'suade Williams hit two free throws on the personal foul. Derrick Roberson then hit two more free throws on the technical foul to give the Sentinels a 50-47 lead. The Sentinels never relinquished the lead.

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Bryson Johnson's jumper with 39 seconds left were the Tigers' last points.

Johnson scored a game-high 15 for Fayetteville. Memphis football signee Thomison had 11 and 15 rebounds and Willoughby added eight with seven rebounds.

Roberson had 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting to lead Chattanooga Prep. Williams added 13.

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.