SPORTS 1C THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL » THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017 COMMERCIALAPPEAL.COM/SPORTS

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL All-Memphis match-ups highlight D2 state tourney JOHN VARLAS consistent team throughout the season ... "From top to bottom, they're probably USA TODAY NETWORK – TENNESSEE and they're at home. We're fortunate to the No. 1 team in our conference. But be here." we've beaten them before. Harding coach Kevin Starks has his Harding along with Lausanne and St. "More than anything, I'm concerned finger on the pulse of Division 2-A bas- George's will comprise 75 percent of the about what our team is going to do. ketball around the state. So when he says field when the boys tournament gets un- That's the main focus; if we do what it means a lot for Shelby County to have derway Friday at Lipscomb University's we've been coached to do, we have a three of the four semifinalists in this Allen Arena. The Lions and Lynx will chance." week's boys state tournament, you can meet in an 11:30 a.m. semi, guaranteeing Harding is the defending champion be sure he's not just being a cheerleader. at least one Memphis team in Saturday's following a memorable victory over "You look at the Middle/East teams 3p.m. championship game. FRA in 2016, a game that saw the Lions like FRA with (coach) John Pierce and Lausanne and Harding have met trail by 31 early in the third quarter be- Webb with Ricky Norris, they always three times this year, splitting in the reg- fore rallying to win in overtime. play well," he said. "But (to have three of ular season before the Lynx won 55-44 in But the Lynx present a different chal- NIKKI BOERTMAN/THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL the four) says it all really. That's huge. the West Region semifinals. The Lions lenge altogether. With sophomore Schyl- Harding Academy's Antoinette Lewis defends "And you look at Rossville, they gave didn't play particularly well in that one er Forest leading the way, Lausanne has Northpoint’s Ashtyn Baker. Both teams play in FRA all they could handle (in last Satur- and Starks is hoping for a better result atremendously talented group of under- the Division 2-A West Regional basketball day's sub-state round). Then you look at this time around. tournament Tuesday night. FACS, which was maybe the best, most "They are really talented," he said. See BASKETBALL, Page 2C

U OF M BASKETBALL GRIZZLIES Parsons misfires again in Griz win

RONALD TILLERY USA TODAY NETWORK – TENNESSEE

Grizzlies coach David Fizdale said veteran Vince Carter’s role this year would be akin to a Swiss Army knife. Carter, 40, could be a utility player. In a130-112 win Tuesday night over the Phoenix Suns, Carter let go a sharp el- bow to Suns guard Devin Booker. Carter was ejected but the show of force sparked the Grizzlies' Grizzlies, according to several team- next game mates. Who: Memphis vs. “I thought he Dallas Mavericks should have stayed When, where: 7:30 in the game. It got us p.m., Friday, THOMAS B. SHEA/USA TODAY SPORTS fired up,” forward American Airlines Memphis Tigers guard Jake McDowell is defended by Houston Cougars forward Bertrand Nkali (13) in the first half at Hofheinz Pavilion Zach Randolph said. Center earlier this season. “(The Suns) are a TV, radio: Fox good, young team. Sports Southeast; They have a lot of WMFS 92.9 FM/680 great talent. It was AM just a good fight for us.” Said Fizdale: “It was going to be one of those games and our guys understood MCDOWELL PUTS that.” Even Booker sounded as though he knew he’d get a lesson in NBA physical- ity. “People know basketball. I knew I was going to get a hard foul at a point in the game,” Booker said. “I just wanted a MEMPHIS FIRST chance at getting somebody back. That’s just how it goes. Anybody who knows Tigers’ guard ‘wants Tigers' next game McDowell will likely be one of three basketball, that’s how it goes, especially Who: Memphis (18-11, 8-8) vs. Tulane (5-23, seniors in the starting lineup today for Vince. He’s played back in the day. He’s program to succeed’ 2-14) the Tigers’ final regular-season home been through that.” When, where: 8 p.m. today; FedExForum game, along with guard Christian Kessee Carter and Booker didn’t provide the regardless if he plays TV, radio: ESPNU; WREC-AM 600, WEGR-FM and forward Chad Rykhoek. But those only fireworks in FedExForum. 102.7 two only came to Memphis over the past Chandler Parsons heard jeers from year as graduate transfers. McDowell fans for his general inactivity on the MARK GIANNOTTO had been dreaming about being a Tiger court. He’s hesitant to shoot, dribbles USA TODAY NETWORK – TENNESSEE text messages back from his wife, Carol, since birth. without purpose and continues to mis- alerting him that Jake is “actually very The tale is well-told at this point, now fire from the perimeter. When Parsons The latest twist in senior Jake Mc- pissed off that they lost,” Hank wasn’t that the 6-foot-5 McDowell earned a made his only basket – a 3-pointer – the Dowell’s unlikely career at Memphis, surprised. scholarship and the title of team captain crowd wildly cheered. when he logged a season-high 18 minutes This, though, may have been the best as a senior. After playing at Christian Then he took a bow – literally. out of nowhere last Sunday, didn’t have a way to sum up why Jake McDowell will Brothers in high school, he eschewed op- Meanwhile, the Grizzlies’ offense lit perfect ending. While the congratulatory be remembered long after he takes the portunities at smaller colleges at the urg- up the scoreboard with 130 points. messages and phone calls rolled in, the court at FedExForum for senior night to- ing of former Memphis walk-on Preston The point total and 55.8 percent shoot- recipient stewed. The Tigers lost to day against Tulane. Laird and elected to join the Tigers under ing were season highs. The Grizzlies’ 75 Houston, their fourth-straight defeat, so “It’s just hard because we’re going on former Coach Josh Pastner. He never ex- second-half points marked the third- celebrating didn't feel right to McDowell. alittle bit of a losing streak right now and pected to be anything more than an un- highest total for either half in franchise His father, former Tigers forward people ask me, ‘Would you rather play dersized practice player only to become a history, falling just two points shy of a Hank McDowell, hadn’t been in the build- and lose, or not play and win,’” McDowell semi-regular contributor last year, ap- franchise-high (77 vs. Golden State on ing to watch it all unfold because of his said in an interview Tuesday. “I’d much pearing in 24 games with Memphis short- Jan. 3, 2007). job as a color analyst for Memphis Griz- rather play zero minutes and win. I just handed in the front-court after the sud- Memphis also amassed a season-high zlies radio broadcast. He could only fol- want this program to succeed because low along on Twitter. But when he got a I’ve been around it my whole life.” See MCDOWELL, Page 3C See GRIZZLIES, Page 4C

COLLEGE BASKETBALL Lynx make long, long trek to NCAA tourney

PHIL STUKENBORG three-hour bus ride from Spokane to USA TODAY NETWORK – TENNESSEE Walla Walla, will give the team ample time to appreciate the magnitude of Another frenetic mid-week basket- what it has accomplished. ball practice had concluded at Mallory Or to wonder why it didn’t draw a Gymnasium on the Rhodes College cam- more favorable opening-round assign- pus and coach Mike DeGeorge huddled ment. his team together for something this pro- “Logistically, it’s been a nightmare,” gram hasn’t received in 24 years. DeGeorge said. “There’s no easy way to DeGeorge delivered the group a de- get from Memphis to Walla Walla, Wash- tailed itinerary on its travel plans to the ington.” NCAA Division 3 Tournament. DeGeorge wasn’t really complaining Rhodes (17-10) will be making its first as much as he was marveling, with a trip since 1993 — before anyone on the smile, at the long and winding road to a Lynx roster was born — so, perhaps, it’s postseason berth. DeGeorge, in his sev- fitting the team will make a lengthy trek enth season at Rhodes, led the Lynx to to Walla Walla, Washington, to play un- the Southern Athletic Association tour- JIM WEBER/THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL beaten and top-ranked Whitman (27-0) at nament title last weekend, the program’s The Rhodes basketball team erupts from the bench after scoring late in their game against 9:30 p.m. CT in Friday’s opening round. Birmingham-Southern to win the SAA Conference Championship Saturday afternoon. The Lynx The multi-stop flight, followed by a See RHODES, Page 2C won 98-95 at Mallory Gymnasium to qualify to the NCAA Division III basketball tournament. 2C Thursday, March 2, 2017 The Commercial Appeal In the news COMMENTARY Top angler Rose to speak at wild-game din- ner: Professional bass angler Mark Rose of West Memphis, who recently made Fishing League Worldwide history by winning back-to-back tourna- ments, will be the guest speaker at 6 p.m. today at Trinity Baptist Church’s annual wild-game dinner (8899 Trinity Road in Cordova). Rose has won $250,000 with back-to-back victories, pushing his career earnings over $2.5 million. He’ll be compet- ing in three FLW Tour events over the next two months, including March 6-9 on Florida’s Harris Chain of lakes. Federer beaten by Donskoy in Dubai: Roger Federer squandered three match points in a shock 3-6, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5) second round loss to Russian qualifier Evgeny Donskoy at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Wednesday in the United Arab Emirates. Federer, who has just won his 18th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, failed to take advan- tage of three match points in the second set tie- breaker, losing two of the three opportunities on unforced errors. Federer netted a forehand on Donskoy’s one set point in that second set tiebreaker to extend the match to a third set. Earlier, top-seeded Andy Murray earned a place in the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Guiller- LOGAN BOWLES-USA TODAY SPORTS mo Garcia-Lopez. Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) is carted off in the second half after sustaining an injury against the Embiid’s season over with 76ers because of Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. The Jacksonville Jaguars won 38-17. left knee problems: Philadelphia center Joel Em- biid’s season is over because of continued issues with his left knee. The 76ers made the announcement Wednesday, hours before the team’s game against the Miami Mariota still Titans’ Heat. Embiid missed his first two NBA seasons with right foot issues, then finally made his debut this season and appeared in 31 games with the 76ers. Embiid averaged 20.2 points and 7.8 rebounds in No. 1 offseason question those games. The 76ers said a scan performed this week JOE REXRODE for it.” showed “more pronounced” problems related to USA TODAY NETWORK -- TENNESSEE “That hasn’t been in any of the discussion, running his previously diagnosed meniscus tear, and that him less. Because I think the way we run Marcus is very the next steps with Embiid are still being deter- INDIANAPOLIS — How’s Marcus? smart. They are designed to have everybody blocked. mined. We have so many questions right now about what the Unless somebody doesn’t get their block, he’s not going Cavs make room for Bogut by waiving McRae: Titans are about to do in free agency and the draft to to get exposed to unnecessary hits. To lose that threat of The Cavaliers have opened up a roster spot for improve their roster, and we asked all that came to his ability to run the ball is a big loss for our offense. free agent Andrew Bogut by waiving guard Jordan mind of Jon Robinson and Mike Mularkey on Wednes- Again, we’ll see how he comes out of it, but I expect a McRae. day at the NFL scouting combine. full recovery.” Bogut is expected to clear waivers on Wednes- But that one is bigger than all the others combined. There’s no question Mariota will do everything in his day and the 7-foot center’s agent tells The Associ- The one about quarterback Marcus Mariota and the power to make that happen. ated Press that he intends to sign with the defend- right fibula he fractured Dec. 24at Jacksonville, ensur- Everything he does at Titans headquarters, from the ing NBA champions. Bogut, who gives Cleveland a ing he would finish his second season on the shelf as he weight room to the film room, is full-throttle to the point needed rim protector and backup for Tristan did his first. of others in the building going out of their way to talk Thompson, will join the Cavaliers later this week. The answers were just as you’d expect, delivered about it. His addition comes two days after the Cavs with confirmation that Mariota is now putting some Of course, that feeds into Mularkey’s helicopter signed veteran point guard Deron Williams, a for- weight on the leg and walking around in a boot as he coaching/parenting as well. He doesn’t want Mariota to mer All-Star who gives the team depth, experience rehabs with University of Oregon trainers and medical overdo things. If the results are coming slower than and another playmaker. staff. hoped, an achiever like Mariota is going to have a hard McRae averaged 4.4 points, made four starts “We have no doubt he’ll be raring to go for next year,” time sitting back and accepting it, and Mularkey said and played in 37 games this season for Cleveland. Robinson said of Mariota, who is in Oregon with his he’s been told “to be careful and be smart about it.” The 25-year-old has shown flashes of being a family by his side. And Titans medical personnel are “keeping track of dependable scorer. The Cavaliers signed the for- “I feel pretty good about it,” Mularkey said. everything he’s doing, from A to Z,” Mularkey said, mer Tennessee standout as a free agent last year. But for a guy who feels pretty good about it, Mular- communicating daily with the University of Oregon He was originally drafted by San Antonio in 2014. key sure is babysitting Mariota from afar. folks. Defense: Killer of 2 is star witness, not Her- He said he talks to Mariota “every couple days,” and There’s nothing abnormal about this on its face. Ma- nandez: The real killer of two men in a hail of gun- they aren’t allowed to talk football at this time of year riota is the franchise. His recovery is paramount and fire at a stoplight was not former NFL star Aaron per the most recent collective bargaining agreement. I there’s been nothing to suggest he’s had any significant Hernandez but rather the government’s star wit- doubt they’re talking country music. They’re talking setbacks. ness in his double murder trial, his attorney about the rehab of the leg, the single most important It would be easier for the Titans if Mariota were re- charged Wednesday in opening statements, reveal- limb in the Titans’ quest to return to contender status. habbing in Nashville right now, but in the meantime ing the defense strategy for the first time. Considering the haziness of Mariota’s timetable and they aren’t going to sit back and hope things are going Jose Baez, who is known for winning an acquit- the lack of clarity on any damage the leg may have sus- OK. Makes sense. tal for Florida mom Casey Anthony, said prose- tained along with the fracture, this feels a bit touchy But then I hear Mularkey talk timetable and I won- cutors want to convict his client so badly that they and delicate. It feels like a bigger deal than we’ve made der just how much unknown remains in play right now. made “a deal with the devil,” referring to Hernan- of it. “I think our No. 1 goal is to make sure he’s under cen- dez’s former friend Alexander Bradley. Bradley Imean, the guy has a metal plate in his leg now. That ter when we open up opening day,” Mularkey said of has said he was with Hernandez the night of the doesn’t mean he won’t make a full recovery, but his Mariota. “I’m not going to put a time frame on when that shooting and is scheduled to testify against him, game relies heavily on those legs. first practice or when the first OTA (he’ll participate), I but Baez counters that Bradley fatally shot Daniel He’s not the statuesque surgeon who just needs time can’t do that because every player is different in how de Abreu and Safiro Furtado over a drug deal. to throw. He needs that speed to realize his potential for they recover. It’s a difficult thing to do.” Prosecutor Patrick Haggan told the jury earlier NFL greatness. The Titans need his run threat in this So is working back from a fractured fibula. So is that Hernandez had a brief encounter with the men offense. looking at this situation and deeming it fine and dandy involving “a simple bump, a spilled drink and an Asked if there’s been any discussion about curtailing until Mariota confirms it on the field. exchange of looks” at a Boston nightclub in the that element of Mariota’s game, Mularkey said: “I don’t Contact Joe Rexrode at [email protected] early morning hours of July 16, 2012. Two hours think so, I think he’s supposed to have a full recovery and follow him on Twitter @joerexrode. later, Haggan said, Hernandez opened fire on the men’s car as they waited at a stoplight. Haggan said the encounter to most people would be “simply trivial,” but Hernandez misinterpreted wasn’t embraced by all when DeGeorge unveiled his it as a sign of disrespect. Rhodes plans. Several Rhodes players chose not to return. Hernandez, a former New England Patriots “Originally, I was pretty skeptical about it,” said Ty- tight end, is already serving a life sentence after Continued from Page 1C ler Gee, a 6-5 senior forward from Atlanta and the SAA being convicted in the 2013 killing of Odin Lloyd, a Defensive Player of the Year. “I’ve always been kind of semi-professional football player who was dating adefensive-minded player. But I decided to stick with the sister of Hernandez’s fiancee. first conference tournament championship in school it. We all bought into it and gave it a shot and we pro- Rams put franchise tag on CB Johnson again: history. gressed incredibly far during the season.” The Los Angeles Rams have placed the franchise He did so by installing a fast-paced, uptempo attack Gee, whose brother, Brian, played football at Cor- tag on cornerback Trumaine Johnson for the sec- last summer, an approach that features three shifts of nell, handles the back of the press, much like the safety ond straight year. wholesale substitutions every 30 seconds, forces turn- position his brother manned in the Ivy League. The Rams announced the decision Wednesday, overs at an alarming rate and gets the bulk of its scoring “When (DeGeorge) told us that game to really be shortly before the deadline for making the move. off 3-pointers and layups. more aggressive, not worry about giving up the easy Johnson will be the highest-paid cornerback in Rhodes ranks third nationally and led the SAA with a (basket) over the top, you could see the change,” Gee the NFL if he plays under the franchise tender. The 109.6-point scoring average, nearly 33 points more than said. Rams and Johnson can negotiate a long-term deal second-place Centre. Gee was named the SAA Tournament MVP after until July 15. They shot 1,082 3-pointers, or roughly 400 more than posting a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) in the Johnson is a standout cover cornerback for the anyone else in the conference. title game. Rams’ defense, which ranked ninth in the NFL last And while they averaged 19.2 turnovers, most in the Brennan Sullivan, a senior guard from Jacksonville, year. SAA, they forced a league-high 27.6 per game. Florida, also made the all-tournament team. He said his He had just one interception last season after It’s safe to say the Rhodes show should attract its goal since coming to Rhodes has to been to be part of the getting seven in 2015. Johnson also had 57 tackles share of attention in the Northwest. next group hanging a black (NCAA tournament) banner while making $13.952 million in 2016. The Lynx will bring a 10-game winning streak to Wal- in Mallory Gymnasium. If it had to be realized with a la Walla. crazed, somewhat unorthodox, high-energy approach, “This is a new (approach) and one of the things we so be it. talked about in the beginning was we wanted to have an “At first, I thought it was a swindle,” Sullivan said of On the air explorer’s mindset about this,” DeGeorge said. “We the change in playing philosophy. “And I told (DeGe- Television said we were going to venture out and see what the lim- orge) I thought he just wanted to play younger guys. Baseball: Spring training, Miami vs. N.Y. Mets, MLB Net- its of the game could be played at the championship lev- “Then I met the freshmen and we started to play and work, noon el. Islowly realized this might work. The idea of making Baseball: Spring training, Baltimore vs. N.Y. Yankees, MLB “We were mixing groups and trying to figure out (an opponent) uncomfortable in a basketball game is a Network, 5:30 p.m. combinations. And we had some early season injuries championship mentality. That is something you get be- Basketball: SEC women's tournament, Auburn vs. Georgia, (to absorb) as well. But the time we settled in on this hind.” SEC Network, 11 a.m. playing rotation was in our last loss.” DeGeorge said Rhodes likely got “shipped out” to Basketball: SEC women's tournament, Alabama vs. Ten- In a 92-91 loss Jan. 22 at Berry College in Mount Ber- the Walla Walla because it got off to a slower start than nessee, SEC Network, 1:30 p.m. ry, Georgia, DeGeorge said the Lynx were down in the four other NCAA-tournament teams with similar rec- Basketball: SEC women's tournament, Ole Miss vs. LSU, SEC closing minutes but almost rallied. ords. Whitman is one of 16 schools hosting first- and sec- Network, 5 p.m. “In the last three minutes we put two defensive ond-round games. Basketball: Nebraska at Minnesota, ESPN, 6 p.m. pressing groups on the floor and the groups really “They are very good and we will have our hands full," Basketball: Houston at Cincinnati, ESPN2, 6 p.m. clicked defensively,” he said. “We thought, `Hey, those DeGeorge said. "They are similar to Birmingham- Basketball: UCF at South Florida, ESPNU, 6 p.m. two kind of worked; what can we do with this third Southern, but they shoot it better from the perimeter Basketball: Tulsa at SMU, CBS Sports, 7 p.m group?’ It worked, too. and they have a dynamic point guard. He's pretty spe- Basketball: NBA, Golden State at Chicago, TNT, 7 p.m. “That third group does something a little differently, cial. But they'll want to press and play fast. So it could Basketball: SEC women's tournament, Florida vs. Texas but when we found that combination of players we be a crazy game.” A&M, SEC Network, 7:30 p.m. haven’t lost.” Well, of course it will be. Basketball: Iowa at Wisconsin, ESPN, 8 p.m. The breakneck pace and style, originally developed Reach Phil Stukenborg at phil.stukenborg@commer- Basketball: Stanford at Colorado, ESPN2, 8 p.m. by coach Dave Arsenault at Grinnell College in Iowa, cialappeal.com or on Twitter @phil_stukenborg. Basketball: Tulane at Memphis, ESPNU, 8 p.m. Basketball: NBA, Oklahoma City at Portland, TNT, 9:30 p.m. Basketball: California at Utah, ESPNU, 10 p.m. Golf: PGA, WGC-Mexico Championship, Golf, 1 p.m. knee injuries. And James, first he had a problem with Golf: LPGA, HSBC Women's Champions, Golf, 11 p.m. Basketball his thumb and then he was on (football) recruiting trips Hockey: NHL, N.Y. Rangers at Boston, NBC Sports, 6 p.m. ... he's missed at least eight games. But the senior lead- Hockey: NHL, Nashville at Montreal, FSTN, 6:30 p.m. Continued from Page 1C ership has really spilled over to guys like Sky and (fel- low 10th-graders) Ashton Smith and Cameron Sims." Radio St. George's has a Mr. Basketball finalist of its own Baseball: Spring training, St. Louis vs. Atlanta, WMC-AM classmen complemented by what head coach Marvis in Chase Hayden, who is looking to win his second 790, 11:55 a.m. Davis said has been great senior leadership from straight. He'll be on display as the Gryphons open This listing is compiled using information supplied by stations James Babb and Jesse Neloms in a season that could against FRA at 2:45 p.m. on Friday. and networks, and is subject to late changes without notice. have easily been derailed by injuries. There will only be one team taking part when D2-AA "One of the things I've learned is that no matter how gets underway Thursday and it's an old reliable. Bri- good we are and bad they are or how bad we are and arcrest is in the semis for the 14th season in a row and Contact good they are, this is the biggest rivalry," said Davis. will put its 14-game winning streak on the line against "Speedy (Starks) does a great job and he's got really Brentwood Academy at 1:15 p.m. SPORTS EDITOR good kids. Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialap- David Williams » 901-529-2310 » [email protected] "We lost four players, two starters, to season-ending peal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas