The Washington Post - USA (2021-10-26)

D6 EZ SU THE WASHINGTON POST.TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26 , 2021

sealed a 22-14 victory against

Sidwell Friends with a late inter-

ception.

For the sophomores who didn’t

play in 2020, Mike Engelberg

explained, the first half of this

season was like their freshman

year. For the freshmen (Maret

starts three of them) who didn’t

play in a youth league last year,

this fall is like another middle

school season. So the experience

of Robbie and others is critical.

“Each week is the equivalent of

a mini-season for us,” Mike E ngel-

berg said, “because we just keep

improving and getting better.”

The rivalry game against

Sidwell, for one, was a welcome

sight. Mike Engelberg enjoyed

seeing the kids compete against

each other again. His son put it a

bit differently.

“Everyone at my school hates

Sidwell,” Robbie Engelberg said,

“just because of the proximity to

each other and the similarities

between the two schools.”

So an interception to clinch a

win against the Quakers, he said,

was one of the highlights of his

prep career.

— Jake Lourim

Paint Branch avenges loss

After hyperextending his right

knee in the first half of Paint

Branch’s matchup with Sher-

wood in April, Panthers quarter-

back Octavian Smith Jr. pleaded

with his coaches to allow him to

reenter the game.

They didn’t want Smith to risk

a more serious injury in a low-

stakes affair, so Smith watched

from the home sideline as the

Warriors beat his Panthers, 29-0,

in Montgomery County’s con-

densed spring season.

When the teams met again

Friday night, a healthy Smith

helped Paint Branch prove its

dominance. The senior account-

ed for three touchdowns and 288

yards as Paint Branch won, 33-0,

in Sandy Spring to improve to 7-1.

“I can’t e ven explain how much

this [win] means to us, being able

to get it for our guys in the spring

season and everybody doubting

us,” said Smith, a three-star re-

cruit who decommitted from

Northwestern last month.

“They’re picking us for their

homecoming, which we found

disrespectful. I told the guys, ‘Let

that all motivate y’all and come

out here and dominate.’ ”

The rematch featured another

scary injury. Paint Branch Coach

Michael Nesmith said linebacker

Jacob Gassaway was hurt on the

second half’s o pening kickoff and

was taken off the field in an

ambulance.

Soon afterward, the Panthers

put the game out of reach for

their sixth consecutive win. Paint

Branch players believed the final

score was a promising sign, be-

cause Gassaway’s jersey number

is 33. Sure enough, Gassaway left

the hospital Saturday, Nesmith

said, and attended Paint Branch’s

afternoon film session.

— Kyle Melnick

Bladensburg stays winless

When Bladensburg exits its

locker room and heads toward

the field before a game, the scene

that awaits is nothing like in the

movies. There’s no line of stu-

dents rocking face paint; there’s

no boisterous crowd waiting to

explode; there’s n o number in the

win column.

“It’s tough. People expect us to

perform and win games, and

obviously we want to do that, but

we just haven’t been able to yet,”

senior quarterback Salulladeen

Wilson said. “We want our games

to go crazy, but it’s hard for them

to cheer when we keep losing.”

Coach Davon Tr owell, in his

first season, has tried to recon-

struct the culture at Bladensburg

(0-8), where he hopes, someday

soon, performances on the field

will enliven the school’s fan base.

The foundation for that is com-

mitment from his players.

“There’s guys that aren’t show-

ing up to practice during the

week but then expecting to ball

out on Fridays,” Tr owell said. “But

that ain’t how winning works, so

we’re trying to teach that you

can’t treat football like a side

piece.”

The team’s best chance to pick

up a victory this season may have

been Saturday, when it played at

previously winless Northwest-

ern. The Mustangs fell, 23-12.

“Losing like this has been

rough, b ut I don’t r egret anything

about it,” Wilson said. “This pro-

gram is going to be really good

one day, and I’m really happy I

could be a part of getting that

started.”

— Tramel Raggs

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Freedom (Woodbridge) is 7-2
— a solid record for one of North-
ern Virginia’s best programs —
but its point totals might prompt
a double take.
The Eagles are averaging 48.6
points per game, having scored
70 in their season opener and 84
in a win this month. The group is
led by senior Davis Bryson, a
dual-threat quarterback who ac-
counted for four touchdowns in
his team’s win over Potomac on
Friday.
“This group is so explosive, so
powerful,” Bryson said. “We can
run the ball, pass the ball at will.
It’s high-powered.”
Bryson missed most of last
season after breaking his fibula
in the third week of the con-
densed schedule. He returned to
practice in late July eager to have
one last shot to lead one of the
area’s best offenses. After all,
being the quarterback of the
Freedom offense is one of the
area’s best gigs. For years, the
Eagles have been known for pour-
ing on the points.
“Just having to sit back and
watch this team go out there
without being a part of it was the
most difficult thing,” B ryson said.
“I know about the history of
successful quarterbacks, so I
knew I had to step up for this role
and keep the legacy going.”
The Eagles’ losses this season,
against Stone Bridge and Gar-
Field, came in the first month of
the season. Bryson is confident
those stumbles are behind the
team now, and he is gearing up
for the postseason with every
intention of keeping the points
coming.
“We’re going to stay f ocused on
us,” Bryson said. “We won’t look
to the future; we won’t focus on
the opponent. It’s all up to how
we execute.”
— Michael Errigo

Maret rounds into form

Rebuilding Maret is starting a
running back new to high school
football and a cornerback new to
football entirely. On Friday, the
team needed a boost from its
most experienced player: Robbie
Engelberg, who has been around
the program since he was a tod-
dler.
Engelberg’s father, Mike, is in
his 16th season as Maret’s coach,
and his team scored a signature
win thanks in part to Robbie, who

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

QB Bryson

leads way

as Freedom

flies high

THE POST TOP 20

It was a tumultuous weekend for these rankings as many of the area’s best played prove-it games. In the Washington Catholic Athletic

Conference, St. John’s faced its biggest local test of the year and held on to its perfect start. In Maryland, Quince Orchard shut down Northwest.

Northern Virginia turned into the land of the upsets, with South County and Independence losing to unranked opponents.

11. C.H. Flow ers (7-1) LR: 13
    The Jaguars had no problems with Suitland in a 34-14 win.
    Next: Friday vs. Northwestern, 7 p.m.


12. South County (7-1) LR: 6
    The Stallions were shocked at home by West Potomac, 36-21.
    Next: Friday vs. Alexandria City, 7 p.m.


13. Northwest (7-1) LR: 9
    The Jaguars stumbled against No. 7 Quince Orchard, 31-0.
    Next: Friday at Whitman, 7 p.m.


14. Robinson (8-0) LR: 16
    The Rams remained undefeated by posting their highest point total of
    the year in a 69-27 win over W.T. Woodson.
    Next: Friday at Fairfax, 7 p.m.


15. Tuscarora (7-1) LR: 15
    The Huskies routed Dominion, 49-0.
    Next: Friday vs. Lightridge, 7 p.m.


16. Broad Run (7-1) LR: 18
    The Spartans won by forfeit against Rock Ridge.
    Next: Friday at Loudoun County, 7 p.m.


17. Gonzaga (4-4) LR: 17
    The Eagles had a bye.
    Next: Saturday at McNamara, noon


18. Battlefield (8-0) LR: 19
    The Bobcats have posted two consecutive shutouts, most recently a
    53-0 win over Osbourn Park.
    Next: Friday at Gar-Field, 7 p.m.


19. Paint Branch (7-1) LR: NR
    In an important Montgomery County battle, the Panthers dominated
    Sherwood, 33-0, to extend their winning streak to six.
    Next: Friday vs. Watkins Mill, 6:30 p.m.


20. Theodore Roosevelt (7-1) LR: 20
    The Rough Riders’ offense exploded for 68 points in a win over
    Ballou.
    Next: Friday vs. H.D. Woodson, 6 p.m.

Dropped out: No. 11 Independence

On the bubble: Broadneck, Douglass, Huntingtown, Independence,

Loudoun County

1. St. John’s (7-0) Last ranked: 1
   A 47-yard touchdown catch by DJ Linkins in the third quarter lifted the
   Cadets to a 14-7 win over No. 6 DeMatha.
   Next: Saturday vs. No. 5 Good Counsel, 1 p.m.


2. Archbishop Spalding (9-0) LR: 2
   The red-hot Cavaliers jumped to a 30-point lead by halftime in a
   47-3 rout of Gilman.
   Next: Nov. 5 vs. Mount St. Joseph, 7 p.m.


3. Stone Bridge (8-0) LR: 3
   The Bulldogs went on the road and handed Woodgrove its second
   loss, 34-14.
   Next: Thursday at Potomac Falls, 7 p.m.


4. Wise (7 -0) LR: 5
   The Pumas’ game against Parkdale was canceled because of health
   and safety concerns.
   Next: Saturday at Eleanor Roosevelt, 2 p.m.


5. Good Counsel (6-2) LR: 7
   The Falcons’ defense nabbed two interceptions in a 30-9 win over
   McNamara.
   Next: Saturday at No. 1 St. John’s, 1 p.m.


6. DeMatha (6-2) LR: 4
   The Stags took an early lead against No. 1 St. John’s but couldn’t
   hold on in a 14-7 loss.
   Next: Friday vs. Roman Catholic (Pa.), 7 p.m.


7. Q uince Orchard (8-0) LR: 8
   The Cougars pounded No. 13 Northwest, 31-0.
   Next: Friday vs. Clarksburg, 6:30 p.m.


8. Archbishop Carroll (8-0) LR: 10
   The Lions posted their third shutout in a 54-0 win over Bishop
   O’Connell.
   Next: Friday at Paul VI, 7 p.m.


9. Rock Creek Christian (6-1) LR: 12
   The Eagles held on for a 28-26 win over Life Christian Academy (Va.).
   Next: TBA


10. Madison (7-1) LR: 14
    For the second consecutive year, the Warhawks earned a victory over
    district power Westfield.
    Next: Friday vs. South Lakes, 7 p.m.

Players of the week

RB Jelon Johnson, Battlefield.

The junior ran for 115 yards and two

touchdowns on just nine carries in

a 53-0 win over Osbourn Park.

QB Octavian Smith Jr.,

Paint Branch. The senior

completed 9 of 13 passes for 162

yards and two touchdowns in the

Panthers’ 33-0 win over Sherwood.

He also rushed for 126 yards and a

score on 10 carries.

QB Ty’Sean Helm,

Archbishop Carroll. The Lions

don’t pass much, but Helms, a

junior, was unstoppable when he

did get to throw Saturday, finishing

6 for 7 for 258 yards and four

touchdowns in a 54-0 rout of

Bishop O’Connell.

RB Daequan Harvin, Dunbar.

After leaning on its passing game a

bit too much in a loss to Theodore

Roosevelt, the Crimson Tide stuck

with the ground game against

H.D. Woodson, and its senior star

rushed for 248 yards and four

touchdowns on 19 carries in a

26-20 win.

Games to watch

Damascus at Seneca Valley,

3:30 p.m. Friday

West Springfield at West

Potomac, 7 p.m. Friday

Good Counsel at St. John’s,

1 p.m. Saturday

Wise at Eleanor Roosevelt,

2 p.m. Saturday

reprised that r ole alongside

Morant after an offseason trade.

Memphis’s offensive efficiency,

which improved from 2 0th in

2019 -20 to 15th in 2020-21,

should enjoy another bump if its

key pieces remain healthy. T he

early returns are promising; the

Grizzlies’ attack ranks second in

this season’s s mall sample size.

With Morant running the

show, the Grizzlies can beat

teams inside, outside o r in

between with his array o f floaters

and runners. In Memphis’s

opener, he repeatedly cut

through the Cleveland Cavaliers’

defense late to close out a win.

Against the Clippers, Morant

found so much success as a one-

on-one scorer that the Clippers

started to trap him late in the

game. Morant calmly responded

to the extra pressure by finding

Jackson for a dagger three-

pointer.

Unfortunately, Morant’s

masterpiece against the Lakers

was spoiled in the closing

seconds when he drew a foul on a

potential game-tying three-

pointer but missed his third free

throw, denying the Grizzlies a

chance to force overtime.

“Everybody who knows me

knows I’m very hard on myself,”

Morant said. “I really don’t c are

about what I’ve done tonight i n

this game. I missed the free throw

to tie it, and that’s pretty much

the only thing o n my mind.”

That r esponse — familiar t o

any perfectionist — exemplifies

why t he Grizzlies are quick to

point out that Morant’s s hape-

shifting game is only part of what

makes him their franchise

cornerstone.

“How he’s p laying is showing

up differently,” Jenkins said. “But

he’s t he same person he’s b een

since Year 1: highly motivated to

get better, ultimate competitor,

wants to win, wants to do

everything possible for his

teammates.”

[email protected]

The training wheels are

officially off for Morant, who

underwent knee surgery in the

summer before his rookie season

and suffered an ankle injury early

in his second season. After

treading c arefully through those

setbacks, Jenkins h as ramped up

Morant to 35.3 minutes per game

this season. More Morant will

mean more fun for Memphis,

which has constructed an

intriguing lineup filled w ith

players who can score reliably in

clearly defined roles.

Bane and De’Anthony Melton

provide spacing and secondary

scoring on the wings. Jaren

Jackson Jr., a 2018 lottery pick,

has developed into a skilled

stretch forward who keeps the

defense honest on the perimeter.

And Steven Adams, a big-bodied

center who spent years as an

interior t arget a nd screen-setter

for Russell Westbrook, h as

Jenkins s aid. “He’s finding those

windows of opportunity. He’s

becoming more lethal all over t he

floor. He’s g ot so much

confidence [in his outside shot

now]. Why? Because he’s b een

putting in the work. It w as a daily

grind for him this offseason. The

free throws and getting to the

line more often, that’s a big

emphasis, too. As h e continues t o

evolve his game, he’s g oing to

become unstoppable.”

Morant launched seven three-

pointers against both the

Clippers and the Lakers, and he

made five to take LeBron James

and company to the wire.

“I feel like the stats speak for

itself,” Morant said. “Make or

miss, I’m going into that shot

with 100 percent confidence that

I’m making it. If I miss, I shoot 10

more. I worked on it consistently,

and it’s t ime for me to continue to

shoot the ball.”

Hornets guard LaMelo Ball and

Phoenix Suns c enter Deandre

Ayton — and has a good chance to

claim the Most Improved Player

award.

Like Rose and Wall before him,

Morant was viewed as a non-

shooter when he arrived in the

NBA. He then shot 33.5 percent

from deep as a rookie and just

30.3 percent last season,

although h e hit five three-

pointers to eliminate S tephen

Curry and the Golden State

Warriors from the West’s p lay-in

round.

Early this season, Morant is

shooting more often and more

confidently. He s till doesn’t

possess textbook form — his

shooting p ocket t ends to be in

front of his face — but his motion

has gotten smoother, and he

hasn’t h esitated when opponents

have dared him to shoot.

“He’s pulling up quick,”

was tied for the league lead

entering Monday. “ I focus on

going out each and every game to

win instead of worrying a bout

whether we’re respected or not.”

After Morant finished with 28

points and eight a ssists to lead

the Grizzlies to a road win over

the Los Angeles Clippers on

Saturday, Paul George said the

performance reminded him of

guarding R ose, then the MVP

leader of the Chicago Bulls,

during the 2011 playoffs.

“He’s just explosive,

electrifying,” G eorge said. “He’s

quick. His ability t o change

directions, move his body in the

air. He p ut a lot of pressure on us.

The plan was to get the ball out of

Ja’s h ands and make somebody

else make plays.”

When Morant returned t o

Staples Center on Sunday with a

game-high 40 points and 10

assists in a narrow loss to the Los

Angeles Lakers, Carmelo

Anthony said simply, “He is the

future of this NBA.”

Don’t g et b linded b y Morant’s

blinding speed. While his

quickness with the ball is his

most easily discernible attribute,

the Murray S tate product’s

foundational s kills are his feel

and his dedication. Morant is a

high-level thinker: He

manipulates matchups, attacks

weak links, reads secondary

defenders and reacts to double

teams like a 10-year veteran. His

soaring dunks and acrobatic

layups play perfectly as trending

videos on social media, but he

doesn’t c hase highlights at h is

team’s e xpense or shirk h is point

guard duties.

“We’re going to war with Ja,”

Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane

said. “That’s our leader. That’s

our guy. He’s g oing to be an all-

star, probably an all-NBA player.”

Indeed, Morant sits atop this

year’s p ack of aspiring first-time

all-stars — that group also

includes Sacramento Kings

guard De’Aaron Fox, Charlotte

los angeles —
Ja Morant is an
optical illusion.
Watch the
Memphis
Grizzlies star for a
moment, and he will slip through
invisible cracks in the defense,
levitate in the air as he ponders
his next move and whip cross-
court passes and loft floaters with
either his left o r his right hand.
Keep watching, and Morant will
change costumes, t riggering
layers of deja vu by conjuring
other great floor generals.
Morant can rip a crossover like
Allen Iverson and explode into
space like Derrick Rose. He might
string out a pick a nd roll like
Chris Paul or weave through the
back of a defense like Steve Nash.
He w ill hit a 360-degree spin
move like John Wall and unleash
a corkscrew layup high off the
glass like Kyrie Irving. No
wonder Grizzlies Coach Taylor
Jenkins s aid this weekend that
his third-year point guard i s “one
of the best students of the game”
he has ever come across, a
basketball obsessive who “does a
ton of self-reflection o n where he
can get better” and spent the past
two summers filling out his
game.
The 22-year-old Morant, who
was selected second in the 2019
draft behind Zion Williamson
and was named 2020 rookie o f
the year, has arrived at t he
crossroads of “Next” a nd “Now.”
If his exquisite opening week is
any indication, Morant is poised
to make the leap into the
superstar ranks and to lift the
Grizzlies, who play in the NBA’s
smallest television market, back
into the national conversation for
the first time since the “Grit and
Grind” era.
“We’ve been making
statements since I got drafted
here, and we’re receiving t he
same thing: no respect,” said
Morant, whose scoring average of
35 points through three games

Explosive guard Morant is ready to make the leap in third season with Grizzlies

On the
NBA

BEN
GOLLIVER

RINGO H.W. CHIU/ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Lakers’ Carmelo Anthony on Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, above: “He is the future of this NBA.”