SPORTS


Tigers out the gate and kicking up a fuss


Tri-State Defender, Thursday, November 17 - 23, 2011, Page 15 LEMOYNE-OWEN COLLEGE


DATE OPPONENT


OCTOBER 29 Rust


NOVEMBER 2 Memphis 12 Rust 20 29


DECEMBER 1 3


LOCATION Bruce Hall


MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE 2011-2012


TIME (W) 87-62.


Alumni Game Claflin*


Albany State*


15 Miles* 19 31


JANUARY 3 5 7


Fort Valley State* Tennessee State


Claflin*


Stillman* Tuskegee*


9 Morehouse* 14 16 19 21 24 26


Tuskegee* Paine*


Fort Valley State*


Memphis Tigers freshman for- ward Stan Simpson blocks the shot of Mick Hedgepeth of Belmont.


by J.R. Moorhead Special to the Tri-State Defender


W


lawsuit against the NBA owners, it doesn’t seem like the Memphis Grizzlies will be hitting the hard- wood any time soon. Basketball, however, is alive and


well in Memphis. The University of Memphis bas-


outmatched CBU physically and the Tigers looked ready to start the regular season. The season started Tuesday with


ketball team had their final tune up last Friday against the Christian Brothers University Buccaneers, prevailing 79-56. CBU ran a Princeton-style offense, trying to slow Memphis’ fast-pace play, but the Tigers’ athletic defense caused the Bucs to commit 19 turnovers. CBU ended the game shooting a mere 39 percent from the field. Summation:Memphis straight up


even a gear guy,” said Pastner, ad- mitting that he still wears the same sneakers from his assistant coach- ing days. The nearly 16,300 people that


was played on the big screen show- casing past and present players in such a cinematic fashion that many goose bumps. Then, the Tigers took the floorwearing throwback jerseys from the ’72-’73 season, honoring the late Larry Finch with a No. 21 patch on their shoulder straps. “I love the uniforms, and I’mnot


a 97-81 victory against the Belmont Bruins of Nashville. The Bruins were coming off a one-point loss to No. 6 Duke the previous week and their confidence had to be soaring. Showing respect for Coach Rick Byrd and his Bruins, Coach Josh Pastner ofMemphis said, “Belmont is a top 25 team.” Before the game, a tribute video


ith the announcement a few short days ago that the NBA players are filing an antitrust


FEBRUARY 2 9


11 13


Kentucky State* Kentucky State* Lane*


Clark-Atlanta*


18 Miles* (Senior Night) 20 22 25


15 Morehouse* Paine*


Benedict* Lane*


FEBRUARY-MARCH 27-3 SIAC Tournament *Conference games


Tigers point guard Joe Jackson and the U of M were more than Belmont could handle. (Photos by Warren Roseborough)


Clark-Atlanta* Stillman*


Fed EX Forum (L) 67-119. Holly Springs, MS (L) 64-73. Bruce Hall Bruce Hall


6:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m.


Bruce Hall Bruce Hall Fairfield, AL Nashville, TN


Bruce Hall Bruce Hall Bruce Hall Bruce Hall


Tuscaloosa, AL Tuskegee, AL Bruce Hall


Benedict*(Homecoming) Bruce Hall Albany State*


Albany, GA Fort Valley, GA


Frankfort, KY Bruce Hall Bruce Hall Atlanta, GA Atlanta, GA Bruce Hall


Augusta, GA Columbia, SC Jackson, TN


Atlanta, GA


WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE 2011-2012


October 29


12 17 20 29


DATE OPPONENT Rust College


NOVEMBER 1


Tennessee State Rust College


Jacksonville State Alumni Game Claflin*


DECEMBER 1 3


Memphis Head Coach Josh Pastner has a top-notch team of Tigers on his hands.


gathered at the FedExForum got to see something Tuesday that they have been waiting on for a few years. Wesley Witherspoon finally showed everyone his true potential. He went a perfect 6-6 from the field, with three of those from


same as Memphis cruised. The Tigers shot better from the charity stripe and finished the game 50 per- cent from beyond the arc. Also, Memphis continued to show they can spread the ball around, totaling 20 team assists. However, the Bru-


percent from the field, but only trailed by seven points because the Tigers only shot 56 percent from the free throw line in the half, which was riddled with fouls, 26 total. The second half was much the


that Wesley, who finished with 22 points and 5 rebounds, “looked like an elite player.” More important than the points, Witherspoon looked like a leader on the court. In the first half, Belmont shot 35


three-point range in the first half, scoring a total of 16 points. Pastner remarked after the game


ins never gave up and at one point trimmed the lead to 7 points, but their 18 turnovers and lackluster shooting performance made it im- possible to overcome the deficit. With their confidence buoyed,


the Tigers don’t have long to cele- brate, as they are headed toMaui to play a Top 20 team in Michigan. Going forward, the hype around the Tigers is likely to grow, but the team doesn’t show any outward signs of being susceptible to dis- traction. In a phrase borrowed from Bill


Belichick, the coach of the New England Patriots, Pastner tells his players “to ignore the noise.” WhileMemphis might not be lis-


tening to the noise, if they keep playing at the level they are now, they just may make some noise of their own in Maui next week.


JANUARY 3 5 7


14 16 19 21 24 26


Albany State*


15 Miles* 31


Fort Valley State* Claflin*


Stillman* Tuskegee*


Clark-Atlanta* Stillman* Tuskegee* Paine*


Fort Valley State*


FEBRUARY 2 9


11 13


Kentucky State* Kentucky State* Lane*


18 Miles*(Senior Night) 20 22 25


Clark-Atlanta* Paine*


Benedict* Lane*


February-March 27-3 SIAC Tournament * Conference games


LOCATION Bruce Hall


Nashville, TN TIME (W) 78-69. (L) 60-78.


Holly Springs, MS(W) 73-71. Jacksonville, AL 6:00 p.m. Bruce Hall Bruce Hall


4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m.


Bruce Hall Bruce Hall Fairfield, AL


Bruce Hall Bruce Hall Bruce Hall


Benedict*(Homecoming) Bruce Hall Albany State*


5:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m.


Orangeburg, SC 1:30 p.m.


5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m.


Tuscaloosa, AL 5:30 p.m. Tuskegee, AL Bruce Hall


Albany, GA


Frankfort, KY Bruce Hall Bruce Hall Atlanta, GA Bruce Hall


Augusta, GA Columbia, SC Jackson, TN


Atlanta, GA


5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m.


Fort Valley, GA 6:00 p.m.


5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m.


TBA 41 & counting: MLK Invitational tourney still showcasing hoops


by Andre Mitchell Special to the Tri-State Defender


1971, the MLK Invitational Basketball Tournament, usual- ly held during the week of Thanksgiving, has highlighted some of the most prolific high school hoopsters to lace sneakers. Players from past and present, near and far, speak volumes of the memo- ries and fantastic finishes that the event has delivered for the last 41 seasons.


be on display when Middle school and high school hoop- sters square off next week during the 41st version of the Martin Luther King Invita- tional Basketball Tourna- ment. Since its inception back in


Tradition and change will


and the excitement of it all have helped this annual event become one that has caught the hearts, minds and attention of basketball fans across the Mid-south region. Now it’s in the process of going not only regional, but is looking to ex- pand and burst onto the na- tional tournament scene. Originally, the MLK served


The teams, players, coaches


as a beacon of hope and equal- ity for several Memphis city teams that were denied the op- portunity to compete in city- wide tournaments before de- segregation and integration. Before the 1970’s, many Memphis-area, inner city high school teams were limited to the places they could play and compete. “There were some really good teams that were unable


cause there were some really good teams during that time. I played for a team that was 33- 1 and we were good, but we never had the chance to see how we would have fared against some of the other white teams in town.” Several visionary coaches –


Lloyd Williams at Hamilton High School, Marion Brewer at Northside High School and a few others – lent their efforts to help start a tournament and the MLK tournament was born!


to display their talent and skills because of segregation. Many black schools simply would not be invited to come and play against white schools,” said MLK Tourna- ment Director Robert New- man. “It was unfortunate too be-


sentially the same as they are today. The primary goal is to offer Memphis high school basketball teams an opportu- nity to compete for the illustri- ous MLK championship tro- phy and bragging rights. In addition, the tournament


development committee seeks to build character in young boys and girls as well. Three years ago, the decision was made to include middle school teams. “Our young people need to


see themselves in positions of leadership before they come to the bridge,” said Newman. “Once they get there, it may be too late to develop those skills then.” Many people, said New-


The intentions then are es-


have to be taught to do better and once you give them prop- er instruction and they buy in- to it, then they can handle the responsibility and challenges much better.” So middle school students


are exposed to the tradition- laden, talent-rich event early with the idea of enhancing the odds that they will be better students, better athletes and better citizens overall down the line. And that’s in keeping with


man, take for granted that kids already know how to conduct


the overarching MLK com- mitment to expose youth to the benefits of competitive sports while learning and dis- playing good sportsmanship,


themselves when they enter and/or exit the building, sit down to eat lunch, converse with others, etc. Said Newman: “Our kids


Monday (Nov. 21) and runs through Saturday (Nov. 26), with a break in action on Thanksgiving Day. The high school boys will tip-off Mon- day at 3 p.m. at Melrose High School, and the girls will head over to The LeMoyne- Owen College (LOC) for their start. Also new to this year’s for-


love and camaraderie. This year’s tourney begins


mat is the alternate host sites: LOC for the high school girl’s, with Kirby High School and Kirby Middle School serving as host sites for the middle school for both the girls and boys in grades sixth thorough eighth. The middle school boys’ and girls’ contests are to start on Tuesday (Nov. 22) at 4 p.m. at Kirby High and Kirby Middle School.


LEMOYNE-OWEN COLLEGE


7:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m.


Orangeburg, SC 3:30 p.m.


7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m.


7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.


TBA


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