The Purdy boys basketball team has already accomplished something this season it has never done before, at least as far back as MSHSAA records go.

With a win over Wheaton on Friday, the Eagles moved to 10-2 on the season, marking the first time on record they have produced double-digit wins by the end of December.

The closest Purdy has come to the feat was eight wins, once in 2020 and further back in 2008, the first year records are available online.

Heath Carmichael, Purdy boys basketball coach, said a major part of the success is the number of returners, especially core players buying into his program in his second year at the helm.

“Having that core back, the first day of practice, we hit the ground running,” he said. “In my second year, the kids are picking up on what we expect of them and what we are trying to do. Offensively, our stats are better, and defensively, we are guarding well and making life tough on opponents. Our turnovers are down, and a lot of the things we struggled with last yea have improved, and that give us opportunities to win night in and night out.”

Purdy’s losses have come to Hillcrest, 67-40, and Cassville, 52-41. The Eagles also came out on top of a double-overtime thriller against Aurora in the Clever Invitational Tournament, 70-67.

The Eagles average 57 points per game and give up 43, and Carmichael said that’s just the beginning of the stat improvements.

“Our goal is to allow less than 40 per game, and we are close to that,” he said. “Offensively, we have to guys averaging double-figures, but we have three or four more averaging 6-plus. We can go eight or nine deep, and seven of them average 5-plus. A lot of guys also have an assistto- turnover ratio over 1, and no one was in that range last year.”

Seniors Jake Young and Ezequiel Garcia have led in some games, but Carmichael said the Eagles’ versatility in scoring means everyone gets a piece of the pie.

“We are so balanced that anyone can have a big night,” he said. “It’s not hard for opponents to scout us, but they have to guard all five of us. A lot of nights, we have had 10-plus assists, and even though our goal is 15, that’s a big improvement from last year.”

Carmichael said the Eagles’ moving the ball around has had a major impact on chemistry, as well.

“Our ability to share the basketball and see the floor has improved, and that makes it harder to guard us,” he said. “Whether we are knocking down jump shots or at the rim, that’s a testament to the kids finding quality shots each possession.”

Chemistry was a point the Eagles have hit on many times this season, aiming to create a culture conducive to winning.

“It’s not what we say to each other, but how we say it,” Carmichael said. “We emphasize being a great teammate. We also do lots of drills building habits of making that extra pass or dribbling with purpose. We focus on making the right play and what will help all of us.”

Purdy played in the Border War Shootout at North Arkansas College on Saturday. The Eagles’ next regular-season action will be on Jan. 6, 2023, at Aurora.