Sparkman defeats James Clemens, advances to regional
Alexis Jennings with a valentine rose after the win over JCHS
It was the perfect ending to Valentines Day for the Sparkman girls as they defeated James Clemens in an elimination sub-regional game, 56-35. Sparkman now moves on to the Northwest Regional at Wallace State in Hanceville where they will face Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa.
After being outscored 15-6 in the first quarter, James Clemens got hot in the second quarter and closed to 20-12 with two minutes left in the first half. Sparkman’s press forced several turnovers and stretched the lead to 30-16 at the half.
The shooting of Alexis Jennings was too much to overcome. She had 13 in the first half and finished with 27 including four three-point shots.
Sparkman kept the pressure on until late in the fourth quarter and had their biggest lead at 56-33 after Jennings hit a three.
“They got a little tired so we got some easy buckets with our pres,” Said Sparkman coach Patrick Delay. “We finished the quarter strong in the first and second quarter and was able to get separation from them.”
Delay said overall his team did not play up to the usual standards.
“If we don’t execute on both ends of the court better than we did tonight it will be a short trip for us,” he said. “It will be our job as coaches to make sure they are ready to go and execute properly.”
Jennings does not want a repeat of what happened at Wallace State when she was a freshman. She injured her knee in a loss to Bob Jones. This time Sparkman comes in with momentum of an undefeated season and everyone healthy and playing well.
“Over the season we have worked so hard for this and it’s paying off,” Jennings said. “We made it this far and I plan on getting more and more”.
Jennings knows that defending state champion Hoover waits in the Northwest Regional at Wallace State.
“Every game motivates me. At some point in time I am sure we will have to go through Hoover but we are prepared for it,” Jennings said.
For the first time in the post season Sparkman will play a game away from their home court.
“We talk about playing it all the time,” Delay said of playing on a neutral court. “The shots aren’t always going to fall. You got to be good on defense and execute on offense and we will be in the ball game.”
James Clemens finishes their season at 16-14. China Leary and Hannah Parks had seven points each.
