Memphis basketball signee James Wiseman leads East past rival Whitehaven in region final

Khari Thompson
Memphis Commercial Appeal

A relentless defensive effort from James Wiseman carried East to its fourth consecutive region title on Thursday. The seven-foot Memphis signee finished with a triple double, notching 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 blocks in a 60-44 win.  

“It’s a great rivalry. It’s legendary, especially in our district, so I’m just glad to get the W tonight," said Wiseman, ranked as the nation's No. 1 player for the Class of 2019 in the 247Sports Composite. 

East and Whitehaven have played each other nine times over the last two years, including last year's state championship game. East won that game for its third straight Class AAA state title under Penny Hardaway, now the Memphis Tigers coach.

“East-Whitehaven over the last four years will go down in history as some of the toughest battles from way back," Hardaway said. "Those are knock-down, drag-out battles every time.”

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Both teams advanced to Monday's sectional round. East will host Bolton and Whitehaven will travel to Bartlett. The winner of each game will clinch a spot in the state tournament. 

Different dynamic without Dandridge

Memphis East's Tadarias Jacobs lays the ball up against Whitehaven during their Region 8AAA Championship game at Collierville High School on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019.

East was without two starters. Dee Meriweather missed the game with a concussion and Memphis signee Malcolm Dandridge remains sidelined with a knee injury. Coach Jevonte Holmes said that the Jacobs brothers, Terrence and Tadarius, stepped up big. 

"It’s not the same team. It’s a different dynamic missing Malcolm. Other guys stepped up. The little general JR (Terrence), he’s just a big help," said Holmes. "Tadarius is back in the fold, so we are a different team but I just love the effort."

Dandridge, a 6-9 forward, said that there were moments where he wanted to jump in and help the team but that he stayed patient and confident that East would get the job done. 

"I knew my team would hold it down, so I was comfortable. I wasn’t stressing. They’re doing it for me so it’s no stress or pressure at all," said Dandridge. 

Whitehaven guard Matthew Murrell, who missed several games last year with injuries, said that he knows what it's like to sit out in big games. He's grateful to have the opportunity this year. 

"It’s a great experience playing in this environment," said Murrell, a four-star guard and the No. 3 player in Tennessee in the Class of 2020. "Last year, I wasn’t able to do it and it's a blessing to be able to do it this year."

East vs Whitehaven 'a rivalry but it's a family'

Whitehaven's Matthew Murrell lays the ball up against Memphis East during their Region 8AAA Championship game at Collierville High School on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019.

Holmes said that he and Whitehaven coach Faragi Phillips are good friends. They've coached together in the past, and they bounce ideas off of each other sometimes and they've formed relationships with players on both sides. 

"I eat Sunday dinner with Matthew Murrell all the time," said Holmes. "He’s like a little brother to me. I train some of the kids on their team. It’s a rivalry but it's a family." 

Dandridge, who played for Phillips with Team Penny, echoed that sentiment. 

"Faragi is one of my favorite coaches that I’ve been under," said Dandridge. "It’s definitely a family, it's always tough love when we compete on the court but we still love each other off the court." 

Phillips said that the familiarity is what makes the rivalry fun, along with the talent and preparation on both sides. 

"You can kind of see that in the introduction, how we embrace each other and say, ‘Hey man, let’s go to war,’ but it doesn’t affect how we’re going to perform," said Phillips. "We don’t show any mercy because we know each other or have a good respect factor and we know they’re not going to do the same for us either."