ST. LOUIS AMERICAN OCTOBER 3 – 9, 2013 B5

INSIDE SPORTS With Earl Austin Jr. ST. LOUIS AMERICAN Prep Athletes of the Week NBA in STL Brian Hill Belleville West – Football Chicago Bulls vs. Memphis The 6’2” 210-pound senior dominated on both sides of the ball in the Maroons’ 55-38 victory over O’Fallon last Friday night. On offense, Hill scored three touchdowns on runs of two and 19 Grizzlies on Monday yards and a reception of 20 yards. On defense, he had eight tackles, one sack, two interceptions, one which he returned 97 yards for a The National Basketball fourth touchdown. Association makes its return to For the season, Hill has scored a total of 15 touchdowns. He has St. Louis next Monday with a 488 yards of total offense. On defense, he has 34 tackles, two sacks preseason game between the and two interceptions. Chicago Bulls and Memphis Belleville West (5-0) will host Edwardsville in a Southwestern Grizzlies. The game will be Conference showdown on Friday night. held at the Scottrade Center at 7 p.m. Next week’s contest will feature two of the league’s top contending teams. The Cameron Hilton Grizzlies are coming off a franchise record 56 victories Webster Groves – Football and a trip to the Western Conference finals. Memphis The junior standout enjoyed a big game in leading the Statesmen to features an old school team a 28-7 victory over previously unbeaten Parkway Central. built on defense and the strong Hilton had five receptions for 95 yards and scored two touchdowns inside play of Zach Randolph from four and 12 yards. Hilton also played a big part in the and Mark Gasol. Point guard Statesmen’s defensive effort with two interceptions. Mike Conley has emerged one For the season, Hilton has a team-high 19 receptions for 356 yards of the league’s best at his posi- and seven touchdowns. He also leads the team with three intercep- tion. tions. For the Bulls, everyone is Webster Groves (3-1) will visit Parkway West on Friday night. awaiting the return of All-Star guard Derrick Rose, who missed the entire 2013 season with a knee injury, which he suffered in the 2012 playoffs. Without Rose and a host of For the Bulls, everyone is awaiting the return of All-Star other key injured players, the guard Derrick Rose, who missed the entire 2013 Bulls still managed to make it season with a knee injury, which he suffered in the 2012 to the second round of the playoffs. Eastern Conference playoffs, where they were eliminated by the world champion Miami Missouri standout Francis Peay Peay was held last Thursday at Heat. If Rose regains his MVP died on September 21 after a Armbruster Mortuary on form from two seasons ago, lengthy illness at the age of 69. Clayton Road. the Bulls will be in the mix as Peay had lived in St. Louis for one of the Heat’s biggest chal- the past three years. A native Josh commits lengers in the East. of Pittsburgh, Peay was an All On the local angle, Saint Big Eight Conference tackle St. Mary’s High basketball Louis University fans will get for Mizzou. Peay was a first- standout Josh Robinson has a chance to see former Billiken round draft selection of the given a verbal commitment to forward Willie Reed in action. in the 1966 attend Austin Peay University. The 6’10” Reed played two National Football League The 6’3” Robinson is one of seasons for the Billikens Draft. He went on to play nine the top guards in the St. Louis before leaving the program. seasons in the NFL with the metro area. As a junior, Reed played last season for New York Giants, Green Bay Robinson averaged 25.4 points Springfield in the National Packers and Kansas City a game, which was second in Basketball Developmental Chiefs. He joined the coaching the area a year ago. He also League. He did so well in the ranks after his playing days. averaged 6.6 rebounds and two D-League, that he earned a He became the head coach assists while shooting 49 per- call-up to Memphis at the end at in cent from the field and 77 per- of last season. He is now try- 1986, thus becoming the sec- cent from the free throw line. ing to win a roster spot for the ond African-American head Bayless High standout guard Grizzlies this season. football coach in the history of Patrick Triplett gave a verbal Tickets are still on sale for the . Peay commitment to Brown the big preseason game. You followed at University of the Ivy League. can visit ticketmaster.com or Northwestern after Green was The 6’3’ Triplett averaged 17.5 go to the Scottrade Center. the first African-American points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.4 coach to lead a Big Ten pro- assists and 2.5 steals while R.I.P, Francis Peay gram. Peay stayed at shooting 50 percent from the Northwestern for five seasons. field. Former University of A memorial service for Francis

I wonder if Fisher is having very generous in the contract RAMS second thoughts about Sam extensions of Chris Long and Bradford. This is supposed to James Laurinaitis, and Continued from B3 be his team. He’s supposed to Bradford has one year remain- put this team and this franchise ing after this season. And judg- play, at home, against a divi- on his back. Instead, he helped ing by what I’ve seen since sion opponent, and on a put his team on its back, not he’s been quarterback, the national stage. He had plenty sustaining drives, giving away Rams could probably do better of chances to make a play and downs and points. for what they are paying for. failed. I thought the Rams were

the afternoon. Senior Gregory two touchdowns to lead the FOOTBALL Taylor led the way with 311 Hawks to a 42-27 victory over yards on 24 carries and three Ritenour in a Suburban North Continued from B3 touchdowns. In was Taylor’s Conference showdown. For the first game as a running back. season, Batt now has 965 on Westminster Christian (5-0) He had been playing wide yards rushing and 12 touch- for the championship of the receiver. Junior Nate Strong downs. Metro League. The Bombers added 209 yards on 10 carries kept their season rolling with a and two touchdowns. (You can catch Earl Austin 42-0 victory over rival MICDS Junior Kevin Batt of Jr. talking high school football last weekend while Westmister Hazelwood Central rushed for on the Fox 2 Prep Zone every escaped with a 20-18 victory 252 yards on 29 carries and Friday night at 10:20 a.m.) over Priory on a field goal as time expired.

Top performances last week

Francis Howell Central’s Kendall Morris continued his torrid rushing pace last Friday night as he ran for 304 yards on 19 carries and three touch- downs in the Spartans’ 37-21 victory over Francis Howell North. Morris scored on runs of 69, 80 and 76 yards. He now has 1,110 yards rushing after just five games, which is best in the St. Louis area. East St. Louis broke its three-game losing streak in a big way with a 52-3 victory at Belleville East. The Flyers got back into the win column for the first time in a month by doing it the old-fashioned way, running the football. The Flyers rushed for 526 yards on