Sixers: 103, Memphis: 95

Had it been a 30-minute game, the Memphis Tigers might have been fine. When Jeremiah Martin split two free throws with 9:09 left in the second half, Memphis still had a double-digit lead, 57-45, over No. 20 Texas Tech.

ORLANDO — Nobody said that following Memphis sports was going to be all happiness and joy.

Memphis (8-5 American Athletic Conference) dropped their fourth game in two seasons to No. 9 UCF (12-0, 9-0 AAC) Saturday afternoon. 

COOKEVILLE, Tenn.--Covington's football team did everything it could to win the first state championship in school history Saturday.

When it comes to sequels, Covington's football team is hoping Saturday afternoon will be more like "The Godfather Part II" and less like "Police Academy 7." The Chargers will play in the Class 3A championship game for the second straight year and will once again face mighty Alcoa. The Tornadoes won their 16th title with a 31-20 victory a year ago. 

Quarterback Brady White and the Memphis offense went three-and-out, leaving punter Adam Williams to punt from the Houston 49-yard line. Williams faced a punt from his "dead zone" – a spot on the field where he may not put the ball anywhere but the end zone. He needed room so the Tigers called a shift and took a delay of game penalty.

Mike Conley brought the Grizzlies home in Brooklyn to end a three-game losing streak, but it was rookie Jaren Jackson Jr., with a career-high 36 points and a breathtaking fourth-quarter flurry, who kept hope alive.

COOKEVILLE – Following his team's loss to Brentwood Academy Friday, Memphis University School coach Bobby Alston drew inspiration from the wise words of that noted philosopher Garth Brooks.

Coaches have changed. Schemes have been tinkered with. Quarterbacks have graduated or suffered horrific injuries. But most of the personnel has remained the same in three matchups between Memphis and UCF spanning the last two seasons.

They come in all shapes and sizes. They come from near and far. Unless a yellow flag flies, you probably won’t hear their names or their numbers. But that’s understood from day one.

Here are Friday's reported high school sports results, along with late results from Wednesday and Thursday. For corrections or to send in your team's scores, please e-mail jvarlas@dailymemphian.com.

Memphis: 131, Brooklyn: 125

ORLANDO — After the traditional photos with the championship trophy, after the smiles and the shaking of hands, Memphis coach Mike Norvell quietly handed a football to UCF coach Josh Heupel — signed by the Memphis team — to give to UCF’s injured quarterback, McKenzie Milton.

After a lengthy courtship, the Grizzlies appear on the verge of tying the knot with free agent center Joakim Noah.

The biggest news out of Penny Hardaway’s press conference on Thursday, Nov. 29, was that top recruit James Wiseman had signed his national letter of intent.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Whitehaven football coach Rodney Saulsberry summed up his team's performance in the Class 6A state championship game in one succint sentence.

Ten games, 20 games? Arbitrary designations over the course of an 82-game season. But the Grizzlies are six games into a more tangible turning point: the return of JaMychal Green.

East High center James Wiseman, who announced last week he will attend the University of Memphis, has officially signed with the Tigers, Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said Thursday.

ORLANDO – Just a few days earlier, Penny Hardaway had been sitting along the baseline at the Landers Center, watching three gifted recruits light up the court.

After taking Thanksgiving off, it’s time for a return of the Grizzlies Mailbag, where we’re updating predictions after 20 games and already gazing ahead to the All-Star game and the trade deadline.

The only thing that's been able to slow down the Memphis University School football team has been the Owls' quirky schedule of late.

Tim Haney is out as football coach at Bartlett High.

It’s true that UCF has beaten Memphis three times since Sept. 30 of last year. And it would seem to speak to dominance.

Just like in 2016, the Whitehaven football team is in the state championship game. They’ll play Murfreesboro Oakland on Thursday – just like in 2016.