Memphis East basketball season ends in TSSAA state semifinals

MURFREESBORO – Memphis East boys basketball coach Jevonte Holmes wanted to restore the "East Way" this season. It was a motto that was adopted in the 1970s and 1980s at Memphis East and something he wanted this team to get back to.  

The "East Way" is supposed to end with a gold ball, but that didn’t happen this season as the Mustangs fell to Independence, 78-58, in the Class 4A TSSAA BlueCross Basketball semifinals at Murphy Center on Friday. Independence will play Overton in the championship game on Saturday.  

"We talked about it can’t be about you, it’s got to be about East,” Holmes said. “The ‘East Way.’ … It’s always been known for excellence. It’s always been known for tradition and winning.” 

Holmes commended Independence (33-4) on its defensive discipline and staying true to its zone and knowing where East’s shooters were. It forced the Mustangs to shoot 2-of-22 from the 3-point line.  

Holmes added he knew there were other ways to find the creases in Independence’s zone, but ultimately, the poor perimeter shooting resulted in a frustrating loss.  

"I knew this was the game we had to get over,” Holmes said. “(Independence) did all the small things.” 

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East (26-10) returned to the state tournament in the same season it had to return a gold and silver ball trophies from the 2018 Class AAA championship and 2019 runner-up finish after the TSSAA handed down penalties to the school for former East coach Penny Hardaway's recruitment of James Wiseman when he gave Wiseman's mom $11,500 in relocation expenses to move to Memphis from Nashville..  

Making it back to the state tournament wasn't going to be easy after losing Billy Richmond III to Camden in New Jersey and E.J. Smith to The Skill Factory. Yet, Jamarion Harvey, a senior guard, Alijah Curry and New Hope transfer LJ Hackman found a way to get East back to one of the top four teams in the state.  

For that, Holmes was proud of his team. 

"Without them two (Harvey and Hackman), we wouldn’t be here,” Holmes said of two of the team’s seniors. 

Holmes was successful rebuilding a team which lost several incoming players to new zoning rules as well as transfers.  

And in one year, East was almost at the top. For now, it will have to settle for top four in Class 4A and that’s something the Mustangs can accept. Even if it’s hard to right now.  

“To get here, it’s a big accomplishment for them,” Holmes said. 

Reach Wynston Wilcox at wwilcox@gannett.com and on Twitter @wynstonw__.