Grizzlies

Memphis Grizzlies rookie O.J. Mayo had done more scoring than losing at every level of play until he reached the NBA. Last night, he used his ability to score to help the Grizzlies end a 12-game losing streak, matching his career high with 33 points in a 113-97 win over the host Washington Wizards. "We got the monkey off our back, definitely," Mayo said. "Twelve-game losing streak, I've never experienced anything like that before in my life." Rudy Gay (Archbishop Spalding) scored 23, and Marc Gasol added 22 points and 11 rebounds for Memphis (12-35)

Garrison Forest field hockey coach Traci Davis probably didn't have enough game balls to hand out after yesterday's championship game. She needed one for each player on her team. The No. 3 Grizzlies relied on everyone to help deliver a 2-0 victory over Archbishop Spalding for the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championship yesterday at Friends School. Martha Plack contributed a goal and an assist and the defense of Christine Knauss, Ana Henrich, Bayley Mullan, Megan Mullan and goalies Emily Cain and Megan Farber notched its 13th shutout of the season.

Lee Wheeler had bragging rights at the Wheeler home last night after helping her No. 1-ranked Bryn Mawr team to a 2-0 victory over her twin sister Kate's No. 8 Garrison Forest team yesterday afternoon.But even though Lee's team has prevailed the last two years, she didn't plan to rub it in."When we get home, we talk a little about the game," said Lee, "but it's pretty light. We joke about it. We always talk about what each other did well."Yesterday, in a game filled with intense one-on-one battles, each sister played well despite often having to match up against the other.

There was no sulking or frowning. Three weeks to the day after those actions by Steve Francis were the talk of the NBA draft, the former Maryland guard showed up in Vancouver yesterday and actually cracked a smile.Looking to make amends to a city that felt snubbed by his draft-day actions, when he was taken by the Vancouver Grizzlies with the draft's No. 2 pick, Francis said all the right things yesterday as he faced the media during a news conference at the team's home, General Motors Place.

Lee Wheeler had bragging rights at the Wheeler home last night after helping her No. 1-ranked Bryn Mawr team to a 2-0 victory over her twin sister Kate's No. 8 Garrison Forest team yesterday afternoon.But even though Lee's team has prevailed the last two years, she didn't plan to rub it in."When we get home, we talk a little about the game," said Lee, "but it's pretty light. We joke about it. We always talk about what each other did well."Yesterday, in a game filled with intense one-on-one battles, each sister played well despite often having to match up against the other.

St. Mary's senior Kristen Gaudreau found herself all alone at the far post in the first half yesterday against visiting Garrison Forest, and she pounced on the chance to give the No. 7-ranked Saints an early lead.For the No. 5 Grizzlies, who spent significant time inside St. Mary's scoring circle, a chance like that never came.Instead, company was always nearby as the Saints' defense denied and denied some more, protecting a lead that would turn into a well-earned, 1-0 win.St. Mary's improved to 9-2-3 overall and remained unbeaten in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland's Applebee Division with a 3-0-1 mark.

The scoreboard may have read 0-0, but there were, in fact, two legitimate victories yesterday at Roland Park Country School.One went to the host, No. 5-ranked Reds, who outshot Garrison Forest 10-2 and several times in the second half came within inches of breaking the deadlock.The other went to the visiting, third-ranked Grizzlies, whose defense stood its ground against repeated Roland Park attempts to score.For a scoreless game, this one had no shortage of drama."Each team had chances, but they had more than we did, and we held them off," said Grizzlies coach Micul Ann Morse.

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Clippers landed the first pick in the 1998 NBA draft at the pingpong ball lottery yesterday in Secaucus, N.J., a pick with which they are expected to select Arizona point guard Mike Bibby.Unless they get an offer from another team they can't refuse.General manager Elgin Baylor wouldn't be specific about his team's choice, but he declared that he is certain he will sign free-agent center Isaac Austin, praised his frontcourt and conceded that there are serious problems in his backcourt where no one was effective last season at playing the point.

AISBryn Mawr Mawrtians1997 record: 14-2-2.Coach: Jeanette Budzik.Top players: Jessica McAdam, Sr., F; Ginna Novak, Sr., F; Jen Ahn, Jr., F; Miles Whitman, Jr., F; Carey Fetting-Smith, So., M; Amy Price, Jr., M/D.Outlook: The Mawrtians won their first AIS A Division tournament title last year and are looking to repeat. Despite losing five seniors including All-City/County Player of the Year Kim Smith, the Mawrtians return a load of young talent. There is plenty of strength on attack and in the midfield, including Fetting-Smith, a 16-and-under national team member.

C Garrison Forest almost always gets off to a slow start during field hockey season, but the No. 15-ranked Grizzlies usually hit their stride about now.Unfortunately for No. 4 St. Paul's, this year appears to be no different.The host Grizzlies staged a relentless second-half siegeyesterday that kept St. Paul's pinned in its circle most of the half. Only tenacious defense by the Gators preserved a 0-0 tie in an Association of Independent Schools A Division, non-league contest.Garrison (3-2-1)

Senior Day at C. Milton Wright didn't turn out the way the Mustangs' field hockey team hoped Wednesday. Its Harford County rival, Fallston, a team it had taken to double overtime several times over the past five years without winning, was on deck. The hillside was spray-painted in honor of the team's seniors, saying, "We'll miss you. Good Luck," and the sidelines were filled with fans. But the luck wasn't there. No. 9 Fallston won, 5-1. "Every single alumni girl is waiting to hear if we beat Fallston today," C. Milton Wright coach Bonnie Schnell said.

Memphis Grizzlies rookie O.J. Mayo had done more scoring than losing at every level of play until he reached the NBA. Last night, he used his ability to score to help the Grizzlies end a 12-game losing streak, matching his career high with 33 points in a 113-97 win over the host Washington Wizards. "We got the monkey off our back, definitely," Mayo said. "Twelve-game losing streak, I've never experienced anything like that before in my life." Rudy Gay (Archbishop Spalding) scored 23, and Marc Gasol added 22 points and 11 rebounds for Memphis (12-35)

Liza Blue said she and her Garrison Forest teammates were a little nervous early in yesterday's Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference field hockey final. They had a lot to live up to after returning every starter from last year's championship team, but it didn't take them long to get over the jitters. Blue assisted on two goals by Catie Merrick, eight and 12 minutes into the game, to spark the No. 4 Grizzlies to a 4-0 victory over No. 11 Archbishop Spalding for their second straight A Conference title at Johns Hopkins' Homewood Field.

Emily Cain Garrison Forest, field hockey The junior goalkeeper posted two shutouts to bring her season total to 15, as the No. 3 Grizzlies defeated No. 8 Archbishop Spalding, 2-0, and No. 5 Bryn Mawr, 1-0. She had 11 saves for the week. Cain, who started playing field hockey in the first grade, has allowed only three goals all season and none to an Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland opponent, as the defending A Conference champion Grizzlies (14-1-1) sealed up the top seed for this season's tournament.

After sitting out a game and a half with a sprained ankle, Garrison Forest's Martha Plack was glad just to get back in the game yesterday. She felt even better about scoring the winning goal in the No. 3 Grizzlies' 1-0 field hockey victory at No. 10 Archbishop Spalding. The Grizzlies dominated for much of the game before Plack deflected in a long pass from Liza Blue with 4:18 left. It was the Grizzlies' 16th shot, and it came just after their 10th penalty corner. "It was getting kind of frustrating," Plack said.

Last week against No. 2 Severna Park, Fallston's field hockey team struggled on offense, but yesterday, the attack struck with precision as the No. 5 Cougars upset No. 1 Garrison Forest, 3-1, in an afternoon contest riddled with injury and illness for the host Grizzlies. Two Garrison Forest players were taken to the hospital by ambulance - Bayley Mullan, who was hit in the head with a ball, and Sarah Krolus, who suffered a severe asthma attack - and still another, Cody Magness, sat out late in the game struggling to catch her breath.

Donte Greene finally fulfilled his dream of making the NBA, even if it took a little longer than expected. The 6-foot-10 small forward and Baltimore native was selected 28th by the Memphis Grizzlies last night in the first round of the NBA draft. Greene, who played his high school ball at Towson Catholic, was projected to go between the 13th and 20th pick. "It was definitely tough, seeing teams that told you, `If you're there we're going to pick you,' " Greene said. "It feels good to finally be drafted and to finally have that weight off your shoulders and get back to work."

Player of the Year Liza Blue Garrison Forest On a Grizzlies team that was solid from end to end, the sophomore midfielder played a pivotal role in helping it to the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championship. Blue showed exceptional poise and field presence for an underclassman. Transition was her game, and she combined strong defensive instincts with a precision passing game that sparked the Grizzlies' offense. Coach of the Year Traci Davis Garrison Forest The Grizzlies had come close but until this year had not won a championship since 1995.

Garrison Forest field hockey coach Traci Davis probably didn't have enough game balls to hand out after yesterday's championship game. She needed one for each player on her team. The No. 3 Grizzlies relied on everyone to help deliver a 2-0 victory over Archbishop Spalding for the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championship yesterday at Friends School. Martha Plack contributed a goal and an assist and the defense of Christine Knauss, Ana Henrich, Bayley Mullan, Megan Mullan and goalies Emily Cain and Megan Farber notched its 13th shutout of the season.

Garrison Forest's field hockey team has only four seniors on its 16-player roster, but the No. 6 Grizzlies showed plenty of maturity in yesterday's Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference opener at Severn. Garrison Forest scored two goals in the first half and held off a surge by the No. 15 Admirals for a 2-1 victory. Sophomore forward Martha Plack led the Grizzlies with a goal and an assist. She said her team matched up well with a much more experienced Severn team that has 13 seniors.