INSIDE TODAY:
X GAMES
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Injuries at the Winter X Games have put a damper on the event. Page 4B
SECTION B, Thursday, January 31, 2013
MEN’S BASKETBALL I LSU 73, NO. 17 MISSOURI 70
HEAD SCRATCHER
Ray Lewis’ last ride has been bumpy one NEW ORLEANS — A lot of this Super Bowl was going to be about Ray Lewis anyway, even before strange tales of deer-antler spray and magic hologram chips came to light. He made sure of it by starting his retirement tour early, and bringing along the dances and inspirational speeches that TV cameras eat up. If his oratorical skills are great, so, too, is the player. His teammates love him as much for what he does in the locker room as on the field, and fans in Baltimore may one day even erect a statue to his greatness. Seventeen years fronting one of the most dominating defenses in the NFL should be enough to get him in the Hall of Fame. A Super Bowl win on Sunday would give him a second ring to Tim Dahlberg cherish the rest The Associated of his life. Press Like the player, though, the act has grown old. When Lewis talks — and he talks incessantly — it’s hard to take anything he says seriously. That was the case Wednesday when he had the stage to himself and everyone in a packed interview room wanted to know: Just what is deer-antler spray and why would you want to take it? Turns out he wouldn’t. And, says Lewis, anyone who suggests otherwise must be doing so with evil intent. “That’s the trick of the devil,” he said. “The trick of the devil is to kill, steal and destroy. That’s what he comes to do. He comes to distract you from everything you’re trying to do.” Enough. Please. The real trick for Ray Lewis is obfuscation and if he does it well, it’s because he’s had plenty of practice. The day before, a reporter had the temerity to ask him about a night 13 years ago in Atlanta that left two men dead after a Super Bowl party and put Lewis in jail on charges of double murder. Old news, maybe, but the circumstances
Comment
BILL FEIG/The Associated Press
Missouri guard Keion Bell, center, leans his head on his hand as teammates Corey Haith, left, and Danny Feldmann, right of Bell, watch the closing moments of the second half of the game against LSU on Wednesday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La.
Missouri’s late rally couldn’t overcome a 13-point halftime deficit By JUSTIN YANG
sports@ColumbiaMissourian.com BATON ROUGE, La. — It started off like another typical slow and sluggish road performance for the Missouri men’s basketball team, but this time it was more exciting at the end. At the start of Wednesday night’s 73-70 loss to LSU in Baton Rouge, La., LSU was making all its shots while Missouri was sloppy and missing. Missouri shot just 7 of 26 in the first half and had five turnovers. Missouri coach Frank Haith was livid in Missouri’s first timeout. Missouri headed to the locker room down 39-26, and the game was looking similar to the doubledigit losses Missouri suffered at Ole Miss and Florida. “We dug ourselves into a big hole again,” Haith said. “Taking bad
shots, our defense was not good, transition defense was not good.” Haith emerged for the second half jacketless and tieless, a common occurrence when Missouri is struggling. Early in the second half, No. 17-ranked Missouri was down by as much as 16, but then Missouri’s offense started to click and the team went on an 8-0 run to pull within 46-42. Missouri had started playing defense, and it started to look different from the earlier road losses Missouri has experienced. The Missouri offense started to look better. Point guard Phil Pressey finished with 25 points, and guard Jabari Brown had 19 points. Senior forward Laurence Bowers, who played for the first time since spraining his right knee
on Jan. 8, scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds. “I didn’t want to play him 32 minutes, but it was nice to see him out there,” Haith told the Mizzou Network postgame show. Missouri’s run was cut short when LSU guard Anthony Hickey made a single-handed 7-0 run to pull LSU ahead 55-45. But Missouri did not give up and made it a 61-58 game with 3:39 to go. Then Pressey made a mistake that helped LSU pull away. As guard Andre Stringer pulled up for a 3-point shot, Pressey slapped Stringer’s hand. The shot went in, and after Stringer made the freethrow, LSU was ahead 65-58. A basket from forward Tony Criswell and a 3-pointer from Brown helped Missouri keep in the game, though. Still, a free throw by Hickey gave LSU a 66-63 lead
with 49 seconds to go. Then after a missed 3-pointer by Pressey, Stringer grabbed the rebound and was fouled. Stringer hit his free throws to put LSU ahead 68-63 with 38 seconds left. Earnest Ross then put Missouri back in the game with a 3-pointer. After that LSU forward Johnny O’ Bryant broke past Missouri on the inbounds play for a basket. Then Pressey dashed down court for a quick layup making it 70-68 with 23 seconds left. O’Bryant, who made only five of his nine previous free throws, was fouled on the ensuing possession. He made both his shots to put LSU ahead 72-68. Pressey again made a layup to make it 72-70. After LSU’s Shavon Coleman made one of two foul shots,
Please see TIGERS, page 2B
Please see LEWIS, page 2B
Tolton boys basketball looks to get back to basics
By MICHAEL SHAW
Priede takes her spot in front of the lens for her turn. “She’s hilarious,” Doty said. “The other day, we went and watched some stand-up comedy and I was like, ‘LP, that should be you.”’ It was through jokes that Priede gained confidence in her English.
sports@ColumbiaMissourian.com At first glance, with its sparkling new facilities, Fr. Tolton Regional Catholic High School seems beyond basic. However, the same won’t be said of the Trailblazers’ boys basketball team. “We’re about fundamentals,” firstyear coach Tyler Clark said. Ninety minutes into Wednesday night’s practice, the Trailblazers’ varsity and junior varsity squads continued to run layup and passing drills in their impressive new gymnasium. When the team scrimmaged later, Clark and his coaching staff’s main emphasis was getting the important things right. The team is in the middle of its first varsity season after going 19-9 in junior varsity competition last season. Clark plays down the record, though, noting the inconsistencies in JV scheduling and the unique situation of being a new school. Clark just wants to carry out the program’s mission of teaching the fundamentals while confidently preparing for the next game. “We feel like we’re playing at a high level right now,” Clark said. “We try to get better every game.” Tolton (8-9) is set to play its next game at 9 p.m. Thursday against Linn High School at the Southern Boone tournament in Ashland. The Wildcats bring a big, experienced roster into the game and are looking to redeem themselves after falling 54-42 to North Callaway in their
Please see PRIEDE, page 2B
Please see TOLTON, page 2B
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Latvian player’s funny side not always easy to see By TAYLOR VORTHERMS
off. Priede’s eyes widen and flicker sports@ColumbiaMissourian.com to life. She relaxes her shoulders, Her eyes scan the gym before and her arms fall to her side. dropping to the floor. With fingers “That’s it?” she asks, skeptically interlocked behind her back, she taking steps back towards the exit examines the hardwood looking for of Mizzou Arena. “No hard questhe right words. tions?” Surrounding conversations echo She glances at Jenny Dewar, the through Mizzou Arena, and her sen- Tigers’ communications directences get lost in the buzz of media tor, for permission to flee. Dewar day for the Misthrows up an index souri women’s finger, directing basketball team. Priede to a video “Once you camera propped up Florida (13-7, 2-4 SEC) start joking in on a tripod. at Missouri (13-8, 2- 5 SEC) English, you At the sight, PrieWHEN: 7 p.m. start actually de contorts her face understanding into an animated WHERE: Mizzou Arena it,” Tigers guard frown and shoots RADIO: KTGR 100.5 & 103.1 FM Liene Priede Dewar a glare. says. “When I thought Priede grew up in Riga, Latvia I was done, I was like…” Priede and moved to the United States with swipes her palm across her foreaspirations to learn the language head to dry an imaginary film of and play basketball. As a senior sweat. She then thrusts her arms graduating in May, she also desires up and looks to the ceiling. “…Halan unconventional career. leluiah!” “To be a comedian — that would “But now, I’m like...” She swiftly be a dream,” Priede says. drops to one knee and bows her Right now, though, Priede’s shyhead. “... ‘Please God.’” ness with reporters makes the goal Dewar grins in response. seem odd. She shifts on the balls of “She’s got a realness to her,” Misher feet. Like her gaze, her voice souri coach Robin Pingeton says remains distant and soft. of Priede. “She’s very genuine and Faint beeps sound in rapid order, authentic, and she’s got a funny and the red lights of recorders click sense of humor.”
Today’s Game
GREG KENDALL-BALL/Missourian
MU guard Liene Priede drives to the basket on Auburn guard Najat Ouardad during Mizzou’s 82-76 win over Auburn at Mizzou Arena on Jan. 6. Occupying the camera’s spotlight is 5-foot-4 point guard Lianna Doty. Priede sucks in air and stiffly approaches the scene. The reporter manning the camera begins to adjust the stand to accommodate the height discrepancy. “Doty is a midget,” the 5-10 Priede comments. Laughter ripples through the group of spectators as