Finishing up the final lap of the preseason, the Memphis Grizzlies showed more of a regular-season rotation early. The Houston Rockets showed midseason form on their 3-point shooting. The Rockets unloaded their 3-point arsenal, all the way down to a Chris Paul 30-footer in the first half, building a 27-point lead en route to a 121-103 victory over the Grizzlies on Friday night in the preseason finale for both teams.

Lausanne has continued its winning ways, leaving the Lynx at the top of The Daily Memphian Power 12 standings for another week. Meanwhile, a successful season thus far has moved Kirby into the state rankings for the first time in a long time and now an appearance in the Power 12.

In 2017, UCF had the most prolific offense in the land – leading the nation with 48.2 points per game. After that undefeated season, head coach Scott Frost was off to Nebraska. Josh Heupel, who had been offensive coordinator for the high-flying Missouri attack the previous two seasons, replaced Frost.

You’ve got questions, I’ve got answers, about Memphis vs. UCF.

Here are this week's high school football statistical leaders. For omissions and corrections, please e-mail jvarlas@dailymemphian.com.

Here is the area high school football schedule for Friday night of Week 9. All games are at 7 p.m. unless noted. (Two games were played earlier this week on Wednesday. There were no games scheduled Thursday)

The UCF Knights might have become America’s latest college football darlings (see State, Boise, and the Jan. 1, 2007 overtime victory against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.)

Memphis forward Raynere Thornton took a pass at the 3-point line of the Laurie-Walton Family Basketball Center practice floor. A dribble later Thornton moved the ball to the opposite corner where guard David Wingett was open for a three.

When Memphis kicker Riley Patterson stepped into the team bus after the Tigers 62-55 loss to UCF in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game, he wasn’t sure what to expect. 

Here is this week's Daily Memphian high school honor roll, saluting the top performers in each of the fall sports.

Just because 10th-ranked UCF is headed to town this weekend has not caused Memphis to change its focus from the normal, daily routine. Preparing for the Knights (5-0, 2-0 American Athletic Conference) involves learning from past mistakes and following a process three years in the making.

Carl Coleman has had his fair share of success at Manassas, taking the Tigers to five playoff appearances which includes a a trip to the Class 2A quarterfinals in 2015 – the school’s deepest run ever.

You know what is unfair to Brady White?

When the Memphis Grizzlies open the regular season on Oct. 17 at Indiana, they will have played just five preseason games and the Pacers will have played only four.

Here is the area high school football schedule for Week 9. All games are at 7 p.m. unless noted.

The University of Memphis planned – and even promoted – this Saturday’s game against No. 10 UCF as a white-out event.

With many of the area's public school teams not playing this week because of fall break, it's a good time to take a look at how the postseason picture is starting to shake out.

Mid South Prep Academy started in Memphis as an effort to give local youths a second chance at reaching college. Their schedule includes a mix of prep schools and junior colleges. Mid South Prep CEO Eric “Cowboy” Robinson once ran the most successful AAU program in the Memphis area, and is now taking on the task of expanding the prep school scene in the Mid-South.

UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton has the Memphis defense preparing for the extraordinary going into this Saturday’s matchup at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. 

Former Memphis Tigers standout D.J. Stephens has been signed to a two-way contract by the Memphis Grizzlies, the team announced Monday evening.

During the decade-long Mike Conley and Marc Gasol era, a dearth of three-point shooting elsewhere on the roster has consistently plagued the Grizzlies. Only once in this stretch have the Grizzlies finished in the Top 20 in three-point attempts and only twice in three-point percentage, never higher than 17th on the accuracy front.

Head coach Mike Norvell led his Memphis Tigers team onto the field Saturday night against the Connecticut Huskies wanting to “put the throttle down.” The Tigers did just that in their 55-14 win over the cross-division American Athletic Conference foe. 

Darrell Henderson took the handoff, headed left, and what happened next was pure wizardry.

The Memphis Tigers bounced back Saturday night from an uncharacteristic performance last week against the Tulane Green Wave 

A night after relying on veterans for a home preseason win, the Memphis Grizzlies yielded to their youth.