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Home , Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson, Ja Morant, Taylor Jenkins, The Commercial Appeal

The Commercial Appeal | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2020 | 1B

Tigers online For coverage of the Tigers' game against SPORTS USF, visit commercialappeal.com Morant’s injury is another gut punch to close out 2020

Memphis Grizzlies guard , right, wears a boot on his left foot after suffering an injury during the team's NBA game against the , Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, in New York. KATHY WILLENS, AP

ground, the minds of Memphis Griz- zlies fans everywhere leapt to any Grizzlies’ star guard Morant will be Mark Giannotto number of bad conclusions. When he Columnist had to be taken to the locker room in a out for 3-5 weeks with ankle injury Memphis Commercial Appeal wheelchair, hunched over and taking USA TODAY NETWORK – TENN. deep breaths to combat the physical Evan Barnes game in the second quarter and did trauma, our worst fears seemed to be Memphis Commercial Appeal not return. realized. USA TODAY NETWORK – The NBA's reigning Rookie of the The initial image was horrifying, Not Morant. Anyone but Morant. Year wrote on Twitter after the news, and the subsequent updates only felt Anything but another gut punch to Ja Morant's ankle injury was the sharing both the optimism and sad- slightly less terrifying with time. close out a year that’s featured body latest blow to the Grizzlies in a season ness following his first significant in- Ja Morant hopped on his right foot blow after body blow. not only a week old. Now they'll be jury. 12 times just as soon as his left ankle “It was sad,” Jonas Valanciunas without their star at least through the "I know God is working, so i smile rolled in an unsightly direction, from said. “It was scary.” middle of January. #dagetback," Morant's first tweet read the court to the baseline to the area Sounds like everyone’s 2020, the The Grizzlies announced Tuesday before following it up with "dis one leading to the tunnel at the Barclays year that just needs to end. If not for that Morant will be sidelined 3-5 hurt ngl,", short for "not gonna lie." Center on Monday night, before col- our health, then at least for the sake of weeks after suffering a Grade 2 ankle The earliest he could return is Jan. lapsing to the floor. sprain in Monday's 116-11 overtime win As he writhed in pain on the See GIANNOTTO, Page 2B at the Brooklyn Nets. Morant left the See MORANT, Page 2B

Meet the CA’s boys, girls cross-country teams

Khari Thompson Why chosen: Baker finished second Hernando, Fr. Coach of the Year Memphis Commercial Appeal in the DII-A state meet in 19:07.23. Why Chosen: Jackson finished sec- USA TODAY NETWORK – TENNESSEE ond in the MHSAA Class 6A state meet Mark Newman, St. George's Olivia Barnes in 19:21.99. Why chosen: Newman led the Girls Gryphons to their second consecutive Arlington, Sr. Jessica Joshi state title, winning Division II-A. All members of The Commercial Ap- Why chosen: Barnes finished fifth in peal All-Metro girls cross-country team the Large Class state meet in 18:12.62. St. Mary's, Sr. Boys are nominees for girls runner of the year. Why chosen: Joshi finished second The winner will be announced June 24 Ann-Marie Braese in the DII-AA state meet in 19:14.51. All members of The Commercial Ap- at the fifth annual Memphis Area High peal All-Metro boys cross-country team School Sports Awards presented by Arlington, Jr. Lydia Tankersley are nominees for boys runner of the Farm Bureau Health Plans. Why chosen: Braese finished fourth year. The winner will be announced in the Large Class state meet in 18:11.92 Houston, Sr. June 24 at the fifth annual Memphis Abbie Baker Why chosen: Tankersley finished Area High School Sports Awards pre- Riley Jackson 17th in the Large Class state meet in FACS, Sr. 19:11.34. See PREPS, Page 2B 2B | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2020 | THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL

TSWA ALL-STATE CLASS Morant 6A FOOTBALL TEAM 2020

OFFENSE Continued from Page 1B

Quarterback: Jaxson Campbell, Inde- 20 when the Grizzlies travel for a two- pendence, Sr.; Cade Granzow, Brent- game series at Portland. If he is out five wood, Sr. weeks that could be until Feb. 2 at Indi- Running back: Robert Giaimo, Bart- ana or Feb. 4 at home against Houston. lett, Sr.; Jalen Hunt, McMinn County, Morant could miss between 11-18 Sr.*; Jordan James, Oakland, Jr. games, a sizable chunk in a 72-game Wide receiver:Jake Briningstool, season. But the Grizzlies (1-2) will be Ravenwood, Sr.*; Isaiah Horton, Oak- cautious with their franchise land, Jr.; Walker Merrill, Brentwood, guard. Sr. The team hasn't announced a time- Offensive line:Fisher Anderson, line for Jaren Jackson Jr. and Justise Franklin, Jr.; Zach Ferguson, Dobyns- Winslow's return from injury. Coach Bennett, Sr.; said this month the team Bryce Goodner, McMinn County, Sr.; didn't want to set a return date, and gen- Graham Keating, Oakland, Sr.; Harri- eral manager Zach Kleiman reiterated guards Ja Morant and defend son Wilkes, Germantown Houston, Sr. that Winslow could return sooner than guard DeMar DeRozan during their game at the FedExForum on Wednesday, Dec. Athlete: Ray Banner, LaVergne, Sr. Jackson. 23, 2020. JOE RONDONE/THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL Kicker: Upton Bellenfant, Stewarts The same patience will apply to Mo- Creek, Jr. rant, who averaged 26.3 points and 6.3 DEFENSE assists in three games. In his second be easy, either. They continue their road Jonas Valanciunas opened the season season, the team leaned even more on trip Wednesday against the Boston with double-doubles in all three games. Defensive line: Lou Burchfield, Mary- him to be their offensive catalyst. Celtics before facing the Charlotte Hor- But it's going to take more of that con- ville, Sr.; Ethan Hassler, Collierville, Sr. Morant's usage rate - or percentage nets on Friday. They return to FedExFo- sistency picking up the load Morant car- ; Jackson Martin, Dobyns-Bennett, of team plays he's involved in that lead rum for a four-game homestand start- ried. Sr.; Javon Nelson, Riverdale, Sr. to a shot, attempt or turnover ing Sunday with two games against the "With Ja going out, I'm going to have Linebacker: Junior Colson, Raven- - is 34.3%. That's up from 25.6% last . to step it up, Kyle's gotta step it up," wood, Sr.; Justin Jefferson, Bartlett, season and third in the league behind likely moves into the Brooks said Monday. "The next night, Sr.; Spencer Rich, Brentwood, Sr.; Luka Doncic and Bradley Beal. starting lineup as he did for the second Tyus has to step it up. We got guys that Brent Rowe, Hendersonville, Sr. The Grizzlies scored 26 more points half Monday. He and Kyle Anderson are ready to play and hungry to play." Defensive back: Javon Burke, Bradley per 100 possessions with Morant on the could share duties because For the Grizzlies' sake, they hope so. Central, Sr.; D.J. Burks, Maryville, Jr.; court than off it per Cleaning the Glass. De'Anthony Melton isn't with the team Last January saw them push to the No. 8 Ellis Ellis, Hendersonville, Sr.; John They're also shooting 39.5% from the due to COVID-19 health and safety pro- seed in the West, which they held Howse IV, Brentwood, Sr. field without Morant on the floor com- tocols. through the NBA restart in Orlando. Athlete:C.J. Taylor, Warren County, pared to 48.5% with him on it. Anderson has been arguably the This January will perhaps see the op- Sr.* But more than numbers, Morant's in- team's second-best player so far after posite until reinforcements get healthi- Punter: Trey Turk, Oakland, Sr.* jury halts the promise of an improved scoring at least 20 points in consecutive er. Until then, they'll just push on and * - Mr. Football Finalist, automatically 2020-21 season. There's less room for games. He had a career-high 28 points hang on to the words Morant sent in his part of the team error in a shorter season. Monday against the Nets. third tweet. — Tom Kreager, Nashville Tennessean The Grizzlies' upcoming games won't Dillon Brooks added 24 points and Back soon.

juries during the second half Wednes- NBA Draft is expected to be particularly Morant returned to the bench for the Giannotto day night. strong. fourth quarter wearing a boot on that The trajectory of the entire season, Nonetheless, this image – of Morant injured left ankle. He seemed in good Continued from Page 1B and the future of the organization, sat laying prone, unable to get up because spirits, standing and celebrating as his in those chairs. his left ankle bent like no left ankle short-handed teammates scratched the city’s basketball scene. So there appear to be tough days im- should bend – was an unsettling re- out a 116-111 overtime win against the Most of the area high school basket- mediately ahead for these Grizzlies. minder of how fragile this whole en- short-handed Nets, who played with- ball teams can’t play this winter due to More tough days than last season, even deavor can be. How the random nature out their two superstars ( the pandemic. Penny Hardaway and if Morant and Jackson are still on track of injuries can foil even the best-laid and ). the Memphis Tigers, on their third of- to be the long-term answer for Mem- plans in the NBA. Kyle Anderson had the best game of fense in about two weeks and resorting phis. Just like there are tough days This didn’t even happen on one of his professional career and Dillon to king of the jungle reference to de- ahead for us in this battle with CO- those mad dashes to the rim that makes Brooks was a shot-making pest. Bran- scribe this latest scheme, are still find- VID-19 after 2020 is over, even though you hold your breath, delighted and don Clarke and Valanciunas emerged ing their way after a discouraging start. the long-awaited vaccines are being petrified all at once because Morant is from early-season funks, and then And now the biggest star of all in this distributed. flying through the air like no other point scored the decisive baskets in overtime. city, the one who gave Memphis so But there is light, for us and for Mo- guard can, and sometimes crashing in a "The first one's the hardest," Valanci- much joy since arriving here last sea- rant. X-rays conducted revealed no manner no other point guard does. This unas tweeted in the wee hours of Tues- son, was in a wheelchair. Now, this fracture, according to the Grizzlies tele- was just a fluke. Morant contested a day morning. "This one's for Ja." once-promising Grizzlies season is be- vision broadcast. The team announced shot and landed on the foot of Nets And perhaps there's a lesson within ginning to feel more and more like an Tuesday Morant will miss 3-5 weeks wing Timothe Luwawu-Cabbarot. those words we can all relate to as this unfortunate detour in the franchise’s with a Grade 2 ankle sprain. “A moment like that can really test fight against COVID-19 extends into rebuild. “I know he’s going to bounce back you,” Jenkins said. 2021. Consider this image: The team’s and be fine,” coach Taylor Jenkins said. So add the Grizzlies to the ridicu- On a gut punch of a Wednesday budding superstar (Morant), his bud- Hopefully, he's right. lously long list of people, places and night, the Grizzlies punched back. ding super-sidekick (Jaren Jackson Jr.) It just might be awhile until the Griz- things that have gotten tests they we- So can we. and their newest toy that’s yet to be tak- zlies are at full strength again. It might ren't expecting in 2020. You can reach Commercial Appeal en out of the box () all be too long for them to make another The good news is that the sickening columnist Mark Giannotto via email at relegated to the bench together wearing playoff push like they did a year ago. It image of a helpless Morant eventually mgiannotto@.com and follow different colored hoodies because of in- might not be all bad because the 2021 gave way to a more hopeful one. him on Twitter: @mgiannotto

Preps Jake Arnold Chance Kirby Jake Ryan Houston, Sr. Bartlett, Jr. Christian Brothers, Jr. Continued from Page 1B Why chosen: Arnold finished eighth Why chosen: Kirby finished 24th in Why chosen: Ryan finished tenth in in the Large Class meet in 16:14.68. the Large Class state meet in 16:44.95 the DII-AA state meet in 16:44.73 sented by Farm Bureau Health Plans. Andy Henton Landen McNair Coach of the Year Hays Adams Harding Academy, Sr. Bartlett, Jr. Rusty Woods, Harding Academy Houston, Fr. Why chosen: Henton finished sec- Why chosen: McNair finished 11th in Why chosen: Woods led the Lions to Why chosen: Adams finished 21st in ond in the DII-A state meet in 16:47.41 the Large Class state meet in 16:15.84. a runner-up finish at the DII-A state the Large Class state meet in 16:36.78 meet.

ON THE AIR

Television ACCN State, ACCN NBA TV Gremio-Sao Paulo, FS2 (Subject to change) 5:30 p.m. — Nebraska-Ohio St., 7 p.m. — North Carolina-Geor- 6:30 p.m. — NBA: Grizzlies- Radio COLLEGE FOOTBALL BTN gia Tech, FSSO Celtics, FSSE COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL 11 a.m. — Duke’s Mayo Bowl: 6 p.m. — Richmond-Davidson, 7:30 p.m. — Penn St.-Indiana, 9 p.m. — NBA: Trail Blazers- 7:30 p.m. — Vanderbilt-Florida, Wake Forest vs. Wisconsin, CBSSN BTN Clippers, NBA TV WMPS 103.1/1210 ESPN 6 p.m. — Arkansas-Auburn, 8 p.m. — DePaul-UConn, SOCCER 8 p.m. — Tennessee-Missouri, 7 p.m. — Cotton Bowl: Florida ESPN2 CBSSN 11:55 a.m. — Premier League: WMC 790 vs. Oklahoma, ESPN 6 p.m. — Murray St.-Belmont, 8 p.m. — Florida-Vanderbilt, Fulham-Tottenham Hotspur, PRO BASKETBALL COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL ESPNU ESPN2 NBCSN 6:30 p.m. — Grizzlies-Celtics, 4 p.m. — Butler-Providence, 6 p.m. — Seton Hall-Xavier, FS1 8 p.m. — Tennessee-Missouri, 1:55 p.m. — Premier League: WMFS 92.9/680 FS1 6 p.m. — Mississippi St.-Geor- SECN Liverpool-Newcastle United, 5 p.m. — Virginia-Notre Dame, gia, SECN PRO BASKETBALL NBCSN 7 p.m. — Boston College-NC 6:30 p.m. — NBA: Bucks-Heat, 6:30 p.m. — Copa Do Brasil:

SCOREBOARD

15, Maxine Engel 14, Kaia Barnett 13, Carmyn 25. MUS: Curtis Givens Jr. 13, Henry Nickey 10. Wednesday, Dec. 23 Miami vs. Oklahoma St. Northwestern vs. Auburn, noon PREPS Harrison 10. Halftime: MUS 28-27. New Orleans Bowl Alamo Bowl CFP Semifinal No. 1 TUESDAY’S GIRLS BASKETBALL SCORES Halftime: Hutchison 24-15. Records: PURE 1-4, MUS 8-2. Georgia Southern 38, Louisiana Tech 3 San Antonio Arlington, Texas Records: Hutchison 6-1. Montgomery (Ala.) Bowl Texas vs. Colorado (1) Alabama vs. (4) Notre Dame, 3 p.m. Briarcrest 38, Covington 33 COLLIERVILLE 73, LAKE CORMORANT 60 Memphis 25, FAU 10 CFP Semifinal No. 2 Senatobia 52, St. Mary’s 40 COLLIERVILLE 61, MAHS 47 Leading scorers — Collierville: Davon Barnes Wednesday, Dec. 30 Sugar Bowl Hutchison 54, Collierville 44 Leading scorers — Collierville: Mallory Taylor 18, Jordan Jenkins 14. Lake Cormorant: Thursday, Dec. 24 Duke's Mayo Bowl New Orleans MAHS 54, Harding Academy 48 14, Nakiyah Westbrook 11. MAHS: Serenity Donovan Sanders 20, Alijah Jackson 14, Telvin New Mexico Bowl Charlotte, N.C. Echols 12, Kariah Parker 10. Amos 10. (2) Clemson vs. (3) Ohio St., 7 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL SUMMARIES Frisco, Texas Halftime: Collierville 28-23. Halftime: Collierville 36-26. Wisconsin vs. Wake Forest, 11 a.m. Cotton Bowl Saturday, Jan 2 BIGGERSVILLE 49, CENTER HILL 41 Records: Collierville 8-2. Hawaii 28, Houston 14 Leading scorers — Center Hill: Kayleigh CENTER HILL 66, ALCORN CENTRAL 43 Friday, Dec. 25 Arlington, Texas Gator Bowl Prentiss 11. Leading scorers — Center Hill: Hope Mealer Camellia Bowl Oklahoma vs. Florida, 7 p.m. Jacksonville, Fla. Halftime: Biggersville 26-19. 23, Kayleigh Prentiss 15. Montgomery, Ala. NC State vs. Kentucky, 11 a.m. Records: Center Hill 8-9. Halftime: Center Hill 33-22. FOOTBALL Buffalo 17, Marshall 10 Thursday, Dec. 31 Outback Bowl Records: Center Hill 8-8. Fort Worth, Texas Tampa, Fla. LATE MONDAY COLLEGE BOWL SCORES/SCHEDULE BRIARCREST 52, HOUSTON 39 Saturday, Dec. 26 Tulsa vs. Mississippi St., 11 a.m. Indiana vs. Ole Miss, 11:30 a.m. HARDING ACADEMY 58, (Subject to change) SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Arizona Bowl Fiesta Bowl ST. AGNES 40 Leading scorers — Briarcrest: Kayli Clarkson Monday, Dec. 21 Dallas Tucson, Ariz. Glendale, Ariz. Leading scorers — St. Agnes: Olivia Page 14, 16, Sarah Strong 13. Houston: Aliyah Wilson 15. Myrtle Beach Bowl Louisiana-Lafayette 31, UTSA 24 San Jose St. vs. Ball State, 1 p.m. Iowa St. vs. Oregon, 3 p.m. Skylyn Weisenborn 11. Halftime: Briarcrest 26-13. Conway, S.C. Lendingtree Bowl Liberty Bowl Orange Bowl Halftime: St. Agnes 25-24. BOYS BASKETBALL SUMMARIES Appalachian St. 56, North Texas 28 Mobile, Ala. Memphis Miami Gardens, Fla. Records: St. Agnes 2-3. LATE MONDAY Georgia St. 39, W. Kentucky 21 West Virginia vs. Army, 3 p.m. Texas A&M vs. North Carolina, 7 p.m. BARTLETT 58, MHEA 35 BRIARCREST 77, WEST CARROLL 40 Tuesday, Dec. 22 Cure Bowl Leading scorers — Bartlett: Mya Pratcher 16, Leading scorers — Briarcrest: Cooper Haynes Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Orlando, Fla. Friday, Jan. 1 Monday, Jan. 11 Sariah Conley 11. MHEA: Ashley Milewski 15. 30. West Carroll: Josh Clark 7, Jed Robinson 7, Boise Liberty 37, Coastal Carolina 34, OT Peach Bowl College Football Championship Halftime: Bartlett 34-20. Jalen Anglin 7. Nevada 38, Tulane 27 Miami Gardens, Fla. Halftime: Briarcrest 43-20. Tuesday, Dec. 29 Cincinnati vs. Georgia, 11 a.m. Alabama-Notre Dame winner vs. HUTCHISON 66, Boca Raton (Fla.) Bowl PURE 53, MUS 50 BYU 49, UCF 23 Cheez-It Bowl Citrus Bowl Clemson-Ohio St.winner, 7 p.m. HARDING ACADEMY 35 Orlando, Fla. Orlando, Fla. Leading scorers — Hutchison: Berklee Scifres Leading scorers — PURE: Jacob Eric Roberts