Sparkman girls advance in Area 15 tournament
Alexis Jennings led Sparkman with 23 points Record photo by Lindsay Vaught
Sparkman left nothing to chance on Thursday night in round one of the area tournament. After getting upset in this game and eliminated last year by Huntsville, the Lady Senators poured it on Hazel Green for three quarters compiling a 38 point lead before pulling the starters.
The final score was 72-38 as top ranked Sparkman won their 28th game of the season with no defeats. Hazel Green’s season is over.
“The team is excited,” said Sparkman coach Patrick Delay. “At this time last year they were all crying after being put out by Huntsville. It’s a totally different feeling this year.”
Alexis Jennings dominated in the first half scoring 14 of her game-high 23 as Sparkman built a 10 point first quarter lead and stretched it to 39-12 at halftime. Nicole Martin hit three shots from behind the three-point line and had 11 in the first half. She finished with 16. Maiya Rumph had seven.
“We decided we were going to try to pressure them. We felt if we run our press correctly we had a good chance for success,” Delay said.
Delay knows that with every win the stakes get bigger and the pressure to continue playing at a high level mounts. But so far the Senators seem unfazed by the expectations.
“I knew they would be really good because they were working hard and the way they matured. They knew they had it in them but it even surprises them the level of success they have had this year,” Delay said.
The health of the team is key to Sparkman advancing. The Senators have good depth but they can’t afford injuries or illness among any starters if they are to advance to the Final Four.
Delay said after the game the team has no injuries or illnesses but he is monitoring the team health daily.
Alexis Jennings continues to be one of the hottest recruits in the nation but for now she is focusing only on getting Sparkman to the Final Four. Delay said that Georgia had a basketball coach at the school to visit her this week. She also heard from Kentucky and Auburn this week.
Sparkman will meet Bob Jones to determine the winner of Class 6A, Area 15. That game will be Monday night at 6 pm. The winner of the area will host a sub-state elimination game. The runner-up will travel for a sub-state game.
