Thursday sports page: Hustle struggle in loss to Vipers
Photo: Memphis Hustle two-way player Cam Spencer (24) looks inside while guarded during the Hustle’s loss to Rio Grande Valley on Thursday, Feb. 20 in Southaven. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Feb. 20, 2025- The Memphis Hustle (8-9) were defeated 134-110 by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (10-8) in the first of a two-game set at the Landers Center in Southaven. It was the first game for the Hustle coming out of the NBA All-Star Break and it appeared the team was still in All-Star Break mode.
“Sometimes, you know, things can just look a little sloppy when you have an extended time away from the game,” Hustle coach T. C. Swirsky said. “I felt like that’s what we looked like tonight. We had some good looks. We didn’t make them, and then just things weren’t clicking the way that they normally are.”
DJ Steward paced Memphis with 20 points off the bench.
“He’s been great,” Swirsky said of Steward. “He’s been so solid for us, just a huge spark, especially in a different role tonight.”
Armando Bacot totaled 16 points, followed by Miles Norris with 15, Zyon Pullin had 14 points and two-way player Cam Spencer tallied 13 points.
N’Faly Dante led the Vipers with 29 points and eight rebounds and Daishen Nix added 24 points off the bench.
Rio Grande Valley closed the first quarter on a 23-6 run to take a double-digit lead. The Vipers led by as many as 26 in the second half.
Memphis scored 35 points off turnovers. Rio Grande Valley outscored the Hustle 74-50 in the paint. The Vipers scored 21 fast break points. Rio Grande Valley shot 57.5 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from beyond the arc.
Swirsky expects a better effort when the teams meet again on Saturday night at 7 p.m., aware the game is important for the Hustle in the standings.
“If we want to try and keep climbing that ladder a little bit, winning that game on Saturday will be a huge piece and I think our guys will be ready to play Saturday,” Swirsky said.
Rio Grande Valley moved to 10-8 and sixth place in the Western Conference standings with the victory. The Hustle dropped to 8-9 and 11th place.
PREP PLAYOFFS CONTINUE THIS WEEKEND: Important high school basketball tournament games are set for today and tomorrow with Hernando, Olive Branch, and Northpoint Christian teams still alive in the postseason.
The Hernando girls take the floor first in the 7A state quarterfinals today at 1 p.m., facing defending state champion Tupelo at Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena. The game was to have been played earlier in the week but was postponed until today due to weather and schools not in session.
Olive Branch teams take to the same floor later this afternoon and evening. The Lady Quistors face Vicksburg in a 6A quarterfinal at 4 p.m. and the defending state champion Quistors tackle Columbus in another quarterfinal game at 7:30 p.m. this evening, also at MVSU.
The winners of these games advance to the state semifinals next week at Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.
While Hernando is playing at MVSU Friday, the Northpoint Christian girls basketball team takes the floor at 2 p.m. in a TSSAA Division 2-A West Region semifinal game against University School of Jackson (Tenn.) at Evangelical Christian School in Cordova, Tenn. A win sends the Lady Trojans into a championship game at 5:15 p.m. Saturday; a loss means a third-place game at 1:45 p.m., also on Saturday.
Tuesday, Feb. 18
Prep softball
- Hernando 11, Corinth 0
JUCO baseball at Jackson
- Northwest 2, Coahoma 1
- Northwest 7, Hinds 0
JUCO softball
- Northwest 3, Calhoun 2
- Calhoun 4, Northwest 1
Thursday, Feb. 20
JUCO men’s basketball
- Northwest at Meridian
JUCO women’s basketball
- Meridian 58, Northwest 55
NBA G League basketball
- Rio Grande Valley 134, Memphis Hustle 110
