Briarcrest senior repeats as Mr. Basketball; Okoth makes Bartlett history
A senior Saint and a sophomore Panther win Mr. Basketball in their respective classes.
John Varlas
Reporter
John Varlas is a lifelong Memphian, who has covered high school sports in various capacities for over 20 years.
There are 3276 articles by John Varlas :
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March 2026
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High School Sports -
High School Sports Briarcrest survives four-overtime battle to advance to title game
Josh Huggins leads the way with 32 in win over Knoxville Catholic.
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Player of the Week Vote for the high school boys basketball player of the week, Week 11
Standouts from Briarcrest, City University, Fayette-Ware, Houston and Whitehaven up for consideration this week. Voting ends at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 5.
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High School Sports Division 2 state basketball tournament preview: Briarcrest, Hutchison, St. George’s two wins from gold ball
Saints and Sting begin state play Thursday in Clarksville. Gryphons take the floor on Friday.
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High School Sports Briarcrest outlasts Pope John Paul II for state title
Josh Huggins and Fred Smith combine for 40 points as the Saints win their second championship in three years.
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High School Sports St. George’s falls short in upset bid against defending state champs
The Gryphons had a chance to tie the game late, but a 3-pointer from Carson Crump rimmed out.
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High School Sports Hutchison Sting are stung in Division 2-AA basketball semifinals
Poor shooting, turnovers doom Sting from the get-go against Lipscomb Academy in its first final four game in five years.
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Player of the Week Standouts from Houston, Bartlett win Player of the Week fan vote
One is a finalist for the Class 4A Mr. Basketball award and the other is a reserve who stepped into a starring role.
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Premium
High School SportsHutchison returns to state final four behind Miss Basketball finalist Ava Jones
Ava Jones’ production on the court — and leadership off it — has been vital for a Sting team that is in the final four for the first time since 2021.
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High School Sports Defense carries Whitehaven, Bartlett in Region 8-AAAA semis
The Tigers and the Panthers ensure themselves a spot in the substate round with gritty performances.
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Player of the Week Vote for the high school girls basketball player of the week, Week 10
Standouts from Arlington, Bartlett, Briarcrest and Collierville up for consideration. Voting ends at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26.
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Player of the Week Vote for the high school boys basketball player of the week, Week 10
Standouts from Fayette-Ware, Harding, Houston, Memphis Business Academy and Whitehaven up for consideration. Voting ends at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26.
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High School Sports Hot-shooting MUS downs rival CBHS
Ehi Ataga led the way with 20 points as the Owls clinched the second seed from Division 2-AA West and a home playoff game on Wednesday.
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High School Sports Late free throws send Briarcrest back to final four
Josh Huggins comes through with 8.7 seconds left as the Saints hold off Baylor and advance to the D-2 state boys basketball tournament in Clarksville. Hutchison (D2-AA girls) and St. George’s (D2-A boys) also advanced to state.
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February 2026
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Premium
GolfMemphis, FESJC are special to Joe Tomek. Which is why leaving is tough
Unique opportunity is luring the FESJC head to Australia — and away from the city he’s grown to love.
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Player of the Week Standouts from Bartlett, Briarcrest win player of the week fan vote
D.J. Okoth and Molly McGee recognized after strong performances last week.
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Golf FedEx St. Jude Championship head Joe Tomek stepping down
Executive director of FESJC since 2022 is moving to Australia to oversee 2028 President’s Cup preparations.
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High School Sports Bartlett holds off Houston for district championship
Bartlett keeps its poise and avoids a repeat of 2025, when the Panthers lost to the Houston Mustangs in the 15-AAAA championship game.
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High School Sports Long-range shooting lifts Bartlett over Collierville in district final
The Panthers made nine 3-pointers in the first half to earn a No. 1 seed for the upcoming Region 8 tournament.
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Player of the Week Vote for the high school girls basketball player of the week, Week 9
Standouts from Bartlett, Briarcrest, East, Houston and White Station are up for consideration this week. Voting ends at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20.
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Player of the Week Vote for the high school boys basketball player of the week, Week 9
Standouts from Bartlett, Briarcrest, East, Lausanne and MUS up for consideration this week. Voting ends at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19.
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High School Sports Saturday preps report: Houston holds off Arlington in district semis
Mr. Basketball finalist Justin Frison caps a 30-point effort with a big fourth quarter to give the Mustangs a third crack at top-seeded Bartlett. Also, two local wrestlers win state titles.
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High School Sports Prep, state, Super Bowl champ to coach at Melrose
The former star quarterback led the Golden Wildcats to a state championship in 1996. Also, Ed Murphey Classic is hosting a track and field coaches clinic Sunday at Southwind High.
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High School Sports At Memphis Business Academy, loyalty leads to special senior moments
The Executives defeat Douglass in both the boys and girls games, with the biggest cheers reserved for longtime standouts Larry Benson and Curnesha Taylor.
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High School Sports ECS hires South Gibson coach to lead football program
The South Gibson coach Ben Johnson posted a 29-19 record throughout four seasons and led the Hornets to the Class 4A playoffs each year.
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