2D Sunday, April 2, 2017 The Commercial Appeal In the news PREP NOTEBOOK McGrady, Self, Krause, Lobo headline Hall of Fame class: Two-time NBA scoring champion Tra- cy McGrady, Kansas coach Bill Self, former Chi- cago Bulls executive Jerry Krause and former Mississippi State signee UConn star Rebecca Lobo are part of this year’s Basketball Hall of Fame class. The Hall of Fame announced the 11-person class Saturday on Twitter. Taylor ecstatic over win McGrady was a seven-time NBA All-Star who played 15 years in the league. Self is one of six JOHN VARLAS coaches to lead three different schools to the USA TODAY NETWORK – TENNESSEE NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight. Lobo starred for the Huskies when they won a national champi- Myah Taylor got her workout in onship in 1995 following an undefeated season. Friday night. Krause, who died last month, was the general The Gatorade player of the manager during the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty in the year from state champion Olive 1990s. Branch was one of the many who Others in the class include Notre Dame women’s tuned in to watch Mississippi coach Muffet McGraw and Texas high school State end UConn’s 111-game win- coach Robert Hughes. ning streak in the women’s Final 49ers sign free agent RB Hightower: The San Four. And Taylor had more of a Francisco 49ers have signed free agent running rooting interest than most; she’ll back Tim Hightower. be a freshman on the Bulldogs General manager John Lynch announced the next season. addition Saturday of another back to add depth “I jumped on the bed,” she said behind Carlos Hyde. of her reaction to Morgan Wil- Hightower has experience playing for new liam’s buzzer-beating winner in 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan. He was in Washington overtime. in 2011 when Shanahan was offensive coordinator. “I ran about 10 laps around the Hightower missed the next three seasons with house. I could of gone through the complications from a knee injury and spent the TV. Everybody at my house just past two years in New Orleans. He had 133 carries went crazy.” for 548 yards last season with four touchdowns. He Indeed, just about everyone out- added 22 catches for 200 yards and a score. side of the Northeast went wild af- STAN CARROLL / THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL FILE In six years with Arizona, Washington and New ter the Bulldogs’ 66-64 overtime Olive Branch's Myah Taylor, who will be at Mississippi State next year, said of the Orleans, Hightower has rushed for 2,977 yards victory ended the longest winning Bulldogs’ win over UConn: “I ran about 10 laps around the house.” with a 4.0 average per carry and has 162 receptions streak in college sports history and for 1,208 yards. propelled the Bulldogs into Sun- Retired NBA star Duncan’s ex-adviser to ad- day’s 5 p.m. title game against SEC Trezevant promotes assistant Mark Freeman also made the team mit to fraud: Court documents indicate a former rival South Carolina, which elimi- along with Cordova’s Tyler Harris. financial adviser to retired Spurs star Tim Duncan nated Stanford. Orentheus Taylor has been elevat- Mr. Basketball finalist Parrish He- plans to plead guilty in a multimillion-dollar fraud “It was very exciting, coming ed to the head football coaching job at witt of Douglass and Kavion Han- case. In paperwork filed Friday, lawyers for from last year (losing to by 60 to the Trezevant, replacing Teli White, who cock of Sheffield are the local play- Charles Banks say he plans to admit he misled Huskies in the Sweet 16) to this has accepted the Melrose job after ers on the AA team. Duncan — identified in court documents as “T.D.” year,” Taylor said. “I think their tac- leading the Bears to 2A state champi- Josh Conrad of W.E.B. DuBois, —to get his signatures on about $6 million in loans tic was to attack, to hit UConn in the onships in 2015 and 2016. who was also a Mr. Basketball final- related to a merchandising business. mouth early and show that they “Coach Taylor brings enthusiasm ist along with Tyran Davis of Mitch- Banks was indicted last year for two counts of were a different team, that they and passion to this position,” school ell and Leland Kirkendoll of KIPP wire fraud, with each count carrying a possible 20 weren’t scared.” principal Ronnie Mackin told Academy are on the Class A team. years in prison. Taylor was especially excited for tnhighschoolfootball.com. “It is im- Two-time Mr. Basketball winner He’s scheduled to appear in court Monday. William, who finished with 13 points portant for us to hire a coach who is Chase Hayden heads the Division 2 Duncan retired last year after winning five and six assists. The two-time Com- ready to work hard and continue our team along with finalist Malik Rid- NBA championships in 19 years with the Spurs. He mercial Appeal player of the year success as a Tennessee powerhouse dle of Rossville, CBHS’ Jacob Lyons previously sued Banks over what he alleged were said William has served as a big sis- in football. He was already here and and state tournament MVP Schyler more than $25 million in failed investments. ter of sorts as she prepares for life knows the kids and parents well.” Forest of Lausanne. Neal out as New Mexico hoops coach after 4 at the college level. Prior to joining the Bears last State champion Northpoint had seasons: After four years as head coach and 10 “She’s watched some of my season, Taylor compiled a 7-24 rec- two players selected in D2 girls, overall with New Mexico, Craig Neal and the Lobos games, given me pointers,” Taylor ord in three seasons at Jackson Cen- Miss Basketball winner Ashtyn have parted ways. said. “She’s a wonderful person with tral-Merry before the school closed Baker and Lindsey Whiteside. Two Athletic director Paul Krebs said in a statement abig heart and I think everyone can in 2015. Trezevant will compete in other Miss Basketball finalists — late Friday: “The time has come to move Lobo see that now.” 3A next season following the most Antoinette Lewis of Harding and Basketball in a new direction.” Throughout the season, there recent TSSAA re-classifications. Myah LeFlore of St. Benedict — The move comes three weeks after Krebs had had been plenty of national debate were also named along with Lau- given Neal a vote of confidence following the Lo- about whether the Huskies’ streak Hoops standouts honored sanne standout Selena Pruitt and bos’ loss in the Mountain West Conference quarter- was a good thing or a bad thing for Briarcrest’s Savanna Owens. finals. But in the ensuing weeks, four players with women’s basketball as a whole. Tay- Three members of two-time State runner-up Central had two eligibility remaining — three of whom were con- lor sends State’s victory sends a state AAA state champion East players chosen in AAA, Jireh Wash- sidered starters — announced they’re transferring. clear message. headline the all-state boys basket- ington and Johne’ Stewart. Miss Bas- Neal joined the New Mexico program as Steve “I think it gives a lot of teams ball team announced this week. ketball finalist Jayla Hemingway was Alford’s associate head coach. When Alford left for hope,” she said. “Why not us, too? Mr. Basketball winner Alex Lo- also named, alongside high-scoring UCLA, Neal took over. It’s like (UConn coach) Geno (Au- max, T.J. Moss and state-tourna- Hamilton senior Tesia Thompson, He led the Lobos to a conference tournament riemma) said, he knew theur time to ment MVP Chandler Lawson repre- Ridgeway standout Elizabeth Dixon championship and the NCAA Tournament in his lose was coming. I’m just really ex- sent the Mustangs, who won the title and Munford’s Gabby Crawford. first season, before losing in the first round. In cited it was Mississippi State (that two weeks ago with a 65-45 victory Reach John Varlas at john.var- each of the subsequent seasons, the Lobos were ended the streak).” over Southwind. Jaguars standout [email protected]. eliminated from the conference tournament in the first game and didn’t make the NCAA or NIT tour- naments. Neal finishes with a 76-52 record. US beats Russia 7-0 in women’s hockey: Joce- OUTDOORS lyne Lamoureux-Davidson, Brianna Decker and Kendall Coyne each scored twice to lead the Unit- ed States to a 7-0 victory over Russia at the world championships at Plymouth, Mich. Future bright for Jordan Lee after Amanda Kessel also scored and Madeline Roo- ney stopped all 14 shots she faced to give the U.S. its second shutout in two games. Nicole Hensley Bassmaster Classic breakthrough had 18 saves in a 2-0 win over Canada in the opener the previous night. Maria Sorokina finished with 27 LARRY REA Plus, Lee said, “I really thought saves for Russia (1-1). SPECIAL TO THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL there was no shot at me winning.” The Americans scored in bunches, with two It was a good Classic, too, for goals in less than a minute in the second period and One week before he made his Tennessee angler Ott Defoe of another two in the final 19 seconds of the game. first cast at the 2017 Bassmaster Knoxville. He finished fifth at Briedis beats Huck on points for WBC cruiser- Classic on Lake Conroe near Hous- 48-12 and had the tournament’s weight belt: Mairis Briedis of Latvia defeated ton, Texas, Jordan Lee was on a biggest fish at 9 pounds, 9 ounces. Marco Huck by unanimous decision to take the conference call with Mark Copley, Tennessee Wildlife Resources WBC cruiserweight title and the German’s minor marketing relationship manager Agency: The TWRA is welcoming IBO belt on Saturday in Dortmund, Germany. for Strike King Lure Co., when he comments for its 2018 fishing reg- The judges scored it 116-111, 117-110, 118-109 in said, “It’s just another tournament, ulations through April 23. Com- favor of the undefeated Briedis, who didn’t look only a little bigger.” ments may be submitted by mail to: troubled at any stage of the one-sided bout. Briedis Little did Lee, one of eight Attn: Fisheries Division-Comments, looked fitter, sharper and more precise, using his members of Strike King’s pro staff Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agen- jab to good effect and leaving Huck on the back in the field, know at the time he cy, P.O. 40747, Nashville, TN 37204 foot. Huck, the former WBO champion, stepped up would end up being the Super or emailed to FishingReg.Com- his efforts in the final rounds but Briedis was al- Bowl of professional bass fishing’s [email protected]. Comments must ways in control and he improved to 22-0 (18 KOs). champion and take home the top include “fish comments” in the The Serbian-born Huck dropped to 40-4-1 (27 KOs). prize of $300,000 and suddenly email subject line. This year the The WBC title was made vacant when champion become the face of his sport. TWRA Fisheries Division will pre- Tony Bellew was declared emeritus champion as Guess who picked Lee to win? sent the proposed regulations at the he would have been unable to defend his belt for Copley, that’s who, because he August meeting of the Tennessee some time. Bellew broke his hand in his heavy- knew Lee was ripe for a win in his Fish and Wildlife Commission. The weight victory over David Haye on March 4 but third Classic at the age of 25 and, commission will set the regulations will be able to fight for the title again when he has even though he was pulling for all PROVIDED BY STRIKE KING LURE CO. at its September meeting. There recovered. the Strike King participants, he Jordan Lee celebrates his 2017 will be a public comment period on knew Lee had the abilities to con- Bassmaster Classic victory. the proposed regulations between quer what turned out to be one of those meetings. the most demanding Classics in its Mississippi Department of On the air 47-year history. attended many Bassmaster Clas- Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks: The Television “The reason I picked him to win sics, said Lake Conroe, a 21,000- MDWFP Fisheries Bureau recent- Autos: NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series, STP 500, FS1, 1 is (that) he is always the guy who acre reservoir on the San Jacinto ly announced a proposed rule re- p.m. is in contention,” Copley said. “He River, proved to be frustrating for garding the handling and storage Baseball: MLB, N.Y. Yankees at Tampa Bay, ESPN, noon knows how to make things hap- most competitors. A YouTube of bait fish captured in dam spill- Baseball: MLB, San Francisco at Arizona, ESPN2, 3 p.m. pen.” video featuring Lee being inter- way areas. The proposed rule re- Baseball: MLB, Chicago Cubs at St. Louis, ESPN, 7:30 p.m. Lee certainly knew how to make viewed by Wong and Strike King quires that legal fish caught for Basketball: NBA, Boston at New York, ABC, noon things happen on the final day at pro staffer Debra Hengst at the bait with dip or landing nets, cast Basketball: NBA, Utah at San Antonio, ABC, 2:30 p.m. Lake Conroe. Classic’s Media Day has had more nets, boat mounted scoops, wire Basketball: NBA, Grizzlies at L.A. Lakers, FSS, 2:30 p.m. Despite never having fished than 1,500 views. baskets, minnow seines and min- Basketball: NCAA Women’s National Championship, South Lake Conroe before, Lee, who lives Lee said he looked at a map of now traps must be placed immedi- Carolina vs. Mississippi St., ESPN, 5 p.m. in Guntersville, Alabama, made Lake Conroe before the tourna- ately on ice or in a dry container. Basketball: NBA, Denver at Miami, NBA TV, 5 p.m. one of the most dramatic come- ment and thought, “This lake looks The spillway is the area immedi- Basketball: NBA, Houston at Phoenix, NBA TV, 8 p.m. backs in Bassmaster Classic histo- like it’s a creek in Toledo Bend. ately below a dam, and this rule Golf: PGA Tour, Shell Houston Open, final round, GOLF, ry, coming from 15th place on the Conroe is really not a big lake applies to anglers fishing below noon last day (he was No. 37 after the compared to where we usually go.” Arkabutla, Enid, Grenada, Sardis Golf: Champions Tour, Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic, final first day) to catch 27 pounds, 4 VanDam stuck around Minute and six other areas in the state. round, GOLF, 2 p.m. ounces on the final day for a win- Maid Park, the home of the Hous- Dennis Riecke, MDWFP fisheries Golf: PGA Tour, Houston Shell Open, final round, NBC, 2 ning total of 56-10, 25 ounces better ton Astros and the first major coordinator, said the rule is being p.m. than Steve Kennedy’s 55-1. Iron- league ballpark to ever host the proposed to prevent the spread of Golf: LPGA Tour, ANA Inspiration, final round, GOLF, 4 p.m. ically, Kennedy is from Auburn, Classic weigh-ins. He wanted to non-native fish species, such as the Hockey: NHL, Boston at Chicago, NBC, 11:30 a.m. Alabama. Lee went to school at see how things would turn out silver carp and bighead carp to Hockey: NHL, Philadelphia at N.Y. Rangers, NBC Sports, 6:30 Auburn, where he excelled on the knowing that the two previous new waters. ... Meanwhile, the p.m. War Eagles’ 2013 bass team. Classics had featured down-to-the- MDWFP also is proposing new Soccer: MLS, New England at Portland, ESPN2, 8 p.m. “Jordan is one of those anglers wire final day dramatics. fishing regulations and the open- Tennis: ATP World Tour, Miami Open, men’s championship, who not only knows how to find On stage, after the final weigh- ing date of Lake Monroe near Ab- ESPN2, noon them but catch them,” Copley said. ins, VanDam said to the audience, erdeen. Lake Monroe will host a “He is a young angler that is going which was estimated at more than youth fishing day June 3 and will Radio to be the future of our sport. We 10,000, “Let me tell you a little bit open to the public June 7. Among Basketball: Grizzlies at L.A. Lakers, WMFS-AM 680, 2:30 could not be prouder to have him about Jordan Lee. I’ve gotten to the changes to regulations would p.m. as part of our pro staff.” know him pretty well. We have include the daily creel limit at Lee was one of three anglers in several sponsors in common — he Olive Branch City Park ponds for This listing is compiled using information supplied by stations the top 25 representing Strike drives a Toyota truck, he fishes bream (10) and crappie (5). and networks, and is subject to late changes without notice. King, which is based in Collier- Quantum (rods and reels) and he’s Got an outdoors item of note? ville, joining Kevin VanDam (10th) aStrike King pro. We talk a good Email Larry Rea at lrout- and Todd Faircloth (25th). Van- bit and we do some shows together, [email protected] or go to his website Contact Dam, who is known by his legion of too. He’s a great angler.” at lroutdoors.com; listen to Larry fans as KVD, earned $20,000 and First, he wins his first Classic. Rea on Outdoors on Saturday SPORTS EDITOR Faircloth pocketed $13,000. Then, he is praised by one of his mornings from 6 to 7:30 on ESPN David Williams » 901-529-2310 » [email protected] Ron Wong of Memphis, who has fishing heroes. 790-AM.