Birmingham Groves went on a brief run to start the fourth quarter of the Division 1 girls basketball regional semifinal on March 9 at Detroit Renaissance.After Wayne Memorials Morgan Smith scored in transition and prepared to shoot the ensuing and-one, the senior shouted, Come here! COME HERE! at her teammates, waving them in for a quick huddle.I was just telling them to remember to be solid, sit down and play D and get the boards, Smith said she told them during the eventual 80-65 win. They were getting the boards a lot, so I knew we had to box out better, get the boards, push the ball in transition, get layups and move the ball.More: Does Wayne Memorial girls basketball have 'the best big in the state?'Thats the unfair advantage the Zebras (21-2) have during this tournament run.All five starters are seniors, including Temple commit Mariah Cross, a four-year starter, and Smith, who has started the past three seasons.They also have the experience to weather opposing runs before they get out of hand because, well, they're always still dancing in the playoffs at this time of the year.Its a great feeling, knowing you can trust your teammates, especially having an all-senior starting five lineup, Smith said. You just know were all dialed in, were all veterans with a lot of experience. You just know you can trust anybody on the court.More: Smith leads Wayne Memorial girls basketball to a comeback at StevensonThat played out downthe stretch. Wayne outscored Groves (18-7) 17-6 midway through the fourth, with Smith scoring seven of her 11 points. She took a steal the distance, scored down low and converted a three-point play after being fouled on a transition layup.The Zebras also got 6-foot-2 forward Kaylee King going again. She buried a jumper, scored twice near the rim and drove for another basket to finish with a team-high 18 points.Cross stepped up as a facilitator and defender, while guard Micah Darling also played a key role in closing out the victory.Well, thats four-year players for you, longtime coach Jarvis Mitchell said. You kind of got to put the game in their hands and say, Were going to live and die with you. Its like, We trust you guys. We understand you guys have been through it, so what are you going to do? Its your season, so Im happy to have them, for sure.More: Meet the 2025-26 All-KLAA teams for boys, girls basketballThats not to say the Falcons didnt battle back.Groves is known for its Grinnell College-style system, using full-court pressure to force turnovers and shooting as many 3-pointers as possible, an approach that helped it win the Oakland Activities Association White.You cant prepare for something like that, Mitchell said. I dont care what anybody says. You dont know how the balls going to fall. Tonight, they decided they were going to shoot the cover off the ball and make us work. We knew looking at their scores that they like to press, shoot a lot of 3s in high volume and are probably averaging 80-something points per game, leading the state in scoring.Groves made 12 3-pointers, highlighted by Jacey Roy, Mallory Killian and Julie Audebeau with three each. Harlem Simpson added two and led all scorers with 20 points.We didnt know they were going to come out blazing hot like that, Smith said. But in the tournament, thats how it goes sometimes. We just wanted to defend, keep a hand up and try to contain them.More: Wayne Memorial senior Jaylohn Allen: 'I am Mr. Basketball'And that worked. Wayne never trailed after King scored the opening basket. The closest Groves came was trimming the deficit to two points early in the second quarter, but the Zebras used a 12-3 run to take a 37-26 lead into halftime.Groves played hard, but Wayne stayed in control throughout, which is what youd expect from such a veteran team.With Renaissance up next in the regional championship, the Zebras are two wins away from their sixth trip to the state semifinals at Michigan States Breslin Center since 2018, including last years 61-42 loss to Rockford.Expect that leadership to help them advance to next weeks quarterfinal at Detroit Mercy.We knew we had the experience for this, Smith said. We went to the final four last year. We knew we just needed to step up and take care of the basketball. As seniors, as captains, we know its our responsibility, so we had to go out there and do that.Brandon Folsom covers high school sports in metro Detroit for Hometown Life. Follow him on his new X.com accountat@folsomwrites.This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Wayne Memorial girls basketball beats Birmingham Groves, 80-65

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Randy Arozarena had vulgar words for Seattle teammate Cal Raleigh after he was left hanging at the World Baseball Classic.Arozarena, a two-time All-Star outfielder, seemingly lashed out at Raleigh after the Team USA catcher did not accept a handshake before an at-bat in the United States 5-3 win over Mexico.Speaking to Mexican journalist Luis Gilbert in Spanish, Arozarena said Raleigh has to thank God that he has nice parents, well educated, and said he recently hugged them during a friendly greeting at the team hotel.He then used profane Cuban and Mexican slang to insult Raleigh before pivoting to English and saying Raleigh could shove his good to see you in his rear. Arozarena was born in Cuba but defected to Mexico to pursue an MLB career.Arozarena had reached down to greet Raleigh in his catcher's squat at home plate, and Raleigh declined to offer his hand back. Raleigh appeared to say something to Arozarena during the exchange at the plate that could have set off the Mexican star.Arozarena appeared to be visibly upset at Raleigh, though it wasnt totally clear if he was just having fun at his teammates expense. The pair have been teammates since Arozarena was traded from Tampa Bay to Seattle during the 2024 season.Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer and Roman Anthony added a three-run drive in a big third inning to lead the United States to the win. The U.S. improved to 3-0 and will meet Italy (2-0) on Tuesday night, seeking to secure a spot in the quarterfinals in Houston this weekend.Jarren Duran homered twice for Mexico (2-1), which will face Italy on Wednesday night in the last game of Group B play.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Randy Arozarena had vulgar words for Seattle teammate Cal Raleigh after he was left hanging at the World Baseball Classic.Arozarena, a two-time All-Star outfielder, seemingly lashed out at Raleigh after the Team USA catcher did not accept a handshake before an at-bat in the United States 5-3 win over Mexico.Speaking to Mexican journalist Luis Gilbert in Spanish, Arozarena said Raleigh has to thank God that he has nice parents, well educated, and said he recently hugged them during a friendly greeting at the team hotel.He then used profane Cuban and Mexican slang to insult Raleigh before pivoting to English and saying Raleigh could shove his good to see you in his rear. Arozarena was born in Cuba but defected to Mexico to pursue an MLB career.Arozarena had reached down to greet Raleigh in his catcher's squat at home plate, and Raleigh declined to offer his hand back. Raleigh appeared to say something to Arozarena during the exchange at the plate that could have set off the Mexican star.Arozarena appeared to be visibly upset at Raleigh, though it wasnt totally clear if he was just having fun at his teammates expense. The pair have been teammates since Arozarena was traded from Tampa Bay to Seattle during the 2024 season.Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer and Roman Anthony added a three-run drive in a big third inning to lead the United States to the win. The U.S. improved to 3-0 and will meet Italy (2-0) on Tuesday night, seeking to secure a spot in the quarterfinals in Houston this weekend.Jarren Duran homered twice for Mexico (2-1), which will face Italy on Wednesday night in the last game of Group B play.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Lossiemouth has done it again, storming to a brilliant Champion Hurdle triumph at the Cheltenham Festival this afternoon.The grey mare, trained by Willie Mullins and partnered by stable jockey Paul Townend, absolutely demolished her rivals with a commanding six-and-a-half-length victory.It's a perfect record that just keeps growing the 7-5 favourite has now won all four of her Festival appearances, cementing her status as a true Cheltenham star.Brighterdaysahead chased her home in second place, while The New Lion grabbed third spot.Alexei put in a solid effort to finish fourth, just edging out last year's champion Golden Ace, who ran gallantly in fifth.The race itself was a tactical masterclass from Townend, who kept Lossiemouth tucked in behind the pace-setting Brighterdaysahead for much of the contest.When they turned for home, she made her move and it was devastating.She powered up the famous Cheltenham hill, leaving her rivals with absolutely no chance of catching her.Mullins had faced a tough choice between this race and the Mares' Hurdle, which Lossiemouth had won twice before."The race looked so open, so we thought let's go for it," Mullins told BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.Speaking to ITV, he added: "She's a star mare, to come back four years in a row let alone win, that is incredible."When I put her cheek pieces on her I thought, wow, that's the old Lossiemouth."Owner Rich Ricci was absolutely thrilled with his mare's performance."Unbelievable, magic, great. It is hard to win these races, and she always tries. All credit goes to Willie 10 days ago, he said he wanted to try her with cheek pieces, and it worked," Ricci told ITV."She loves this place, long may it last. The reception she got was great, it is great for the sport."This victory marks Mullins' sixth Champion Hurdle success, further cementing his dominance in the race.And Ricci isn't done dreaming just yet."I'd love to win the Gold Cup, hopefully we can do the double on Friday," he said.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

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