MUS Sports News

Basketball Gets Two More Wins

The MUS basketball team continued their winning ways, taking the first two games in a rare three-game week.

The Owls jumped out to a big early lead and cruised to a 65-25 home win against the Rosemark Rebels last Tuesday night. MUS placed all twelve of their players in scoring column as they took a 36-9 halftime lead and never looked back against outmanned Rosemark.

Then, Wednesday night, MUS had to battle against a surging Catholic squad but eventually held them off, taking a 55-52 win. John Phillips led the Owls with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Philip Reed contributed 11 points. However, Charger Robert Watson kept Catholic in the game with 17 points, but it was not enough as MUS improved to 6-1 on the young season.

Houston comes to MUS this Friday night. The Owls will try to avenge last year's 40-38 loss to the Mustangs in the last game prior to exams. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Football Lands Postseason Awards

With the football season now complete, postseason awards are being doled out, and MUS players are taking their share and being recognized.

First, The Commercial Appeal named their Best of the Preps All-Metro Team, and six Owls made the squad.

Back Derek Clenin, lineman Jeff Grimm, receiver J.D. Lawhorn, quarterback John Conrad McCrary, lineman Todd Jean-Pierre, and linebacker Tyler Wohrman all were recognized for their achievements this season and will have their picture taken at the Liberty Bowl on December 10.

Also, the Super 7 All-State Team was recently named, and once again MUS was well represented.

Clenin was named to the first team as a running back, while Grimm made the squad as an offensive lineman.

On the defensive first team, Wohrman was recognized as one of the top linebackers in the state.

Receiving Honorable-Mention honors included offensive lineman Charlie Gordon, defensive lineman Andrew Hooser, offensive lineman Alan Humphreys, linebacker Bunky Parr, punter Rob Park, as well as Jean-Pierre, Lawhorn, and McCrary.

Congratulations to these guys on their achievements on the field.

MUS Football Hands Out Postseason Awards

On December 8, the football team had their end-of-the-season party and program, and awards were handed out. First, position awards were doled out. The winners included the following:

Offensive Line: JV - Marc Purnell and Joey Friend, Varsity - Jeff Grimm
Offensive Receivers: JV - Will Thornton, Varsity - John David Lawhorn
Offensive Backs: JV - Rob Park, Varsity - Derek Clenin
Defensive Line: JV - Andrew Cabigao, Varsity - Todd Jean-Pierre
Defensive Linebackers: JV - Hays Doan, Varsity - Tyler Wohrman
Defensive Backs: JV - Rob Heflin, Varsity - Derek Clenin

Then, special awards were presented. The following were recognized:

Slobberknocker Award: Bunky Parr
Iron Man Award: Derek Clenin
Managers: Michael Eason and Hunter Shell
Captains: Derek Clenin and Tyler Wohrman
Spirit Award: Blake Lindsay, John Phillips, and Tyler Wohrman
MVP: Derek Clenin

These guys, along with the other Owls, had a fine season and deserve these honors.

Owl Basketball Splits with Nashville Teams

In its first taste of hard-nosed, pressure-packed basketball of the year, MUS went 1-1 as they defeated MBA on Friday night while losing to Father Ryan on Saturday.

On Friday the Owls jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter and led most of the game to hold off the Big Red, 46-40. Guard Philip Reed paced MUS with 15 points and 10 rebounds as he finished 7 of 8 from the free-throw line to salt away the win.

Then, on Saturday, MUS again held the early lead on the defending state champion, but Ryan eventually overcame the deficit to win 46-44.

Reed once again led the Owls in points as he tallied 13, while Clay Chapman added 9 points and 8 rebounds. However, the noted Ryan defense pressured MUS into a season-high 21 turnovers and forced the Owls to shoot 36% for the game. A late three-pointer at the buzzer by Andrew Hanover closed the gap to two points as MUS suffered their first loss of the year.

At 4-1 the Owls are in good shape as they tackle three opponents at home this week. MUS battles Rosemark on Tuesday, Catholic on Wednesday, and Houston on Friday.

Owl Swimmers Open Season

The MUS swimming team opened their season on Thursday with a second-place finish in a county meet.

The Owls finished with 81 points, distancing a very good Cordova squad by 11 points but finishing some 40 points behind Houston, which won with 121 points.

Coach Laurie Clark was pleased with the showing.

"Beating Cordova and finishing second was accomplished by teamwork and depth, which will be our strong suits."

The Owls' next meet will be Thursday, December 12, at St. George's as Germantown, CBHS, Bolton, and Lausanne will compete against MUS. Starting time will be at 6:30 p.m.

MUS Basketball Starts Out at 3-0

After the first week of the season, the varsity basketball team remains perfect after three convincing wins.

The Owls opened the season over Thanksgiving Break with two games in the Tennessee- Mississippi Turkey Shootout, held at MUS.  The shootout comprised eight teams, including the Jackson Academy boys and girls, the Madison Ridgeland boys and girls, the Lausanne boys and girls, Hutchison, and MUS.

MUS opened the season against Madison Ridgeland.

Led by Ryan Baum's 27 points, the Owls took a 32-15 lead into the break and cruised to the 59-31 win on Friday.  Nine players scored in the victory.

The next day, MUS battled Jackson Academy.  Though the game was close at the half, the Owls shot well at 51.2% from the field and had good scoring balance to take the 48-31 win.  Baum again led MUS with 12 points, while John Phillips and Philip Reed each had 10.

And this past Tuesday, the Owls improved their record to 3-0 with a 58-27 win over SBEC.

Though the game was close at the half, the defense got tough in the second half as MUS outscored the Trojans, 35-9, in the second stanza.  Once again Baum was the leading scorer with 21, while Phillips added 16 points.  Guard Derek Clenin also had a good game as he dished out six assists and had no turnovers in just over 20 minutes of action.

The wins give the Owls some momentum as they head into a tough section of their schedule.  This Friday night, MBA comes to town to play, and then on Saturday, Father Ryan has their turn against MUS.  Friday's game starts at 7:30PM, while tipoff Saturday is set for 2:30PM

Clenin Nominated as Mr. Football Finalist

This past Monday, December 2, senior Derek Clenin, along with Coach Bobby Alston, Coach Phil Massey, and Coach Barry Ray, headed to Nashville to participate in the 2002 American General Mr. Football Awards Luncheon held at the Opryland Hotel.

Clenin, along with McCallie's Ryan Moore and MBA's Michael Fisher, had been nominated as the three finalists for the Division II, Class AAA Back of the Year.

Though Clenin did not win the award, his season and impact on the 2002 Owls cannot be downplayed. The MUS running back tallied 1011 yards rushing this year and had 18 touchdowns. He also had 177 receiving yards and was an effective return man. His 1476 all-purpose yards this year leaves him third on the career all-purpose yardage list. His rushing total also gives him 2411 rushing yards for his MUS career, leaving him fourth all-time. Outstanding numbers.

The athletic program and school will miss the leadership and effort Clenin has provided throughout his MUS career.