With spotlight on Alexis Jennings, Sparkman tips off tonight against James Clemens
Sparkman girl's coach Patrick Delay and Alexis Jennings
It will be the debut of two new head coaches tonight when the Sparkman girls visit James Clemens in the first city action of the basketball season. Game time for the varsity is 7 p.m.
At Sparkman, Patrick Delay has taken over for longtime coach June Seals.
Delay was assistant coach for the last 12 years to Seals who retired to take advantage of the school system’s DROP program. She now lives in Tuscaloosa according to Delay.
Delay played basketball at Brooks High School and then graduated from Auburn where he was a manager for the women’s basketball team when Joe Ciampi was the head coach.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge and glad Mr. Wallace gave me the opportunity to do this,” Delay said. “We’re going to play a little more up tempo. We’re going to play hard nosed man-to-man defense, stress offensive rebounds, and take care of the basketball. We have got a lot of experience but we are still young.”
Most fans will be watching Alexis Jennings, the 6-foot-2 forward /center who has starred for the Senators the last two seasons. Last season Jennings averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots per game.
Jennings, a junior, is rated the 25th best high school girl’s basketball player in the nation by The National Women’s Basketball Insider and was All-State as both a freshman and sophomore.
Last year,Jennings made an appearance at the Final Four state basketball championship in Birmingham. She competed in the three-point shooting contest.
“She is a lot stronger than she has been in the past. She has done a good job in the weight room,” Delay said. “She goes up against good competition every day.”
Jennings spent the summer playing the AAU basketball circuit and was on a team that won nationals in Dallas. She also went to one elite camp.
Jennings has developed as an efficient three-point shooter and is Sparkman’s top returning three-point shooter. She continues to work on her mid-range game and has the ability to play multiple positions.
But opponents can’t just concentrate on Jennings.
“Nicole Martin is just as good a three-point shooter as Alexis is. We’re expecting her to develop her shot to relieve pressure from our inside players,” Delay said.
Maiya Rumph will also play in the backcourt and Toni Brewer will jump center.
Sparkman last won the 6A state basketball championship in 2007.
Last season, Sparkman couldn’t get out of the area tournament, losing in the first round to Huntsville 43-33.
Delay said that after the disappointing end to last season, Sparkman has a goal of getting at least to the Northwest Regional at Wallace State.
Sparkman will play in Area 15 with Bob Jones, Hazel Green, and Buckhorn.
