Game Preview: Mountain Brook HS vs Mortimer Jordan HS

Mortimer Jordan comes into tonight’s contest with a heartbreaking 52-56 loss against Sparkman on Saturday. It was definitely a tale of two halves, as Mortimer Jordan’s defense held Sparkman to 15 total first-half points. In the second half, the tables turned, and Sparkman caught fire and pulled out the win. <blockquote> Now their eyes are set on Mountain Brook and bouncing back. </blockquote> This will be a good test for Coach Kelly Robinson to see how his girls will respond.   Mountain Brook comes into tonight’s contest starting their season on the road. Coach Sara Price is ready to get her team on the court and see the results of the dedication to the off-season grind. Coach Price leads a young squad into Mortimer Jordan, and it will be interesting to see how the Lady Spartans handle the hostile crowd. <blockquote> One thing is for sure Mountain Brook is going to compete on both ends of the floor. </blockquote> Do they have enough firepower to outlast Mortimer Jordan remains to be seen, but we are less than eight hours away from the tip of this one.   There will be a lot of talent on the court tonight.   For The Visiting Mountain Brook Spartans   <img class="size-medium wp-image-350019 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/PGH-Emma-Stearns-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" />Emma Stearns (5’6 / Shooting Guard / 2024)   Instagram: emma.d.stearns Twitter: @emmastearns_   Key Characteristics: One of the best 3-point shooters in the 2024 class. She competes hard every time she steps on the court. Strong rebounder.     <img class="size-medium wp-image-350020 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/PGH-Emily-Straughn-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" />[player_tooltip player_id="330731" first="Emily" last="Straughn"] (5’7 / Shooting Guard / 2023)   Instagram: emilystraughn Twitter: @emily_straughn   Key Characteristics: One of the hardest working athletes on the team. Excellent 3-point shooter. Plays within herself.     <img class="size-medium wp-image-350024 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/PGH-Sarah-Passink-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" />Sarah Passink (5’5 / Point Guard / 2024)   Instagram: sarahpassink Twitter: @N/A   Key Characteristics: Floor General. Quick off the bounce. Slasher. Gets to the rim and finishes. Knockdown the open shot in c&s opportunities. Playmaker. She is the player that makes the team go.   For The Host Mortimer Jordan HS   <img class="size-medium wp-image-350027 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/PGH-Haley-Russell-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" />Haley Charlise Russell (5’9 / Shooting Guard / 2023)   Instagram: haley_russell198 Twitter: @HaleyRussell25   Haley is a transfer from Spain Park HS that joined the Mortimer Jordan HS squad this year. She is a guard with good size that is aggressive on her attacks to the basket. She can handle the rock and finishes at the rim. Her athleticism makes her a versatile option on both ends of the court. <blockquote> She can defend multiple positions, and her versatility allows her to play in the paint and on the perimeter on the offensive end. </blockquote> With it being early in the season and playing on a new team, Haley seems to be feeling her way through the process of joining a new team. She is a vital piece of the puzzle, and if Mortimer Jordan is going to accomplish their goals this season, Haley is going to have to find her footing and assert herself more.     <img class="size-medium wp-image-348726 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/PGH-Sarah-Kanaday-300x300.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" />Sarah Kanaday (5’4 / Shooting Guard / 2023)   Instagram: sarahkanaday Twitter: @KanadaySarah   Sarah has been highly productive in the first two contests of the season. She had 14pts on opening night against Oak Mountain, and she dropped 20pts (4-7 from 3) on Saturday against Sparkman. There are few propositions more terrifying for a defense than Sarah catching the rock from behind the arc, and she begins her shooting motion. <blockquote> She is the type of player who demands a defender never leaving her, which can instantly create a challenge for team defensive concepts. </blockquote>   Keys To Victory:   For Mountain Brook HS: <ul> <li style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16pt; color: #0e101a;">Play selfless.</li> <li style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16pt; color: #0e101a;">Play with grit and tenacity needed on the road.</li> <li style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16pt; color: #0e101a;">Handle the atmosphere.</li> <li style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16pt; color: #0e101a;">Transition defense</li> <li style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16pt; color: #0e101a;">Stay disciplined.</li> </ul>   For Mortimer Jordan HS: <ul> <li style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16pt; color: #0e101a;">Shoot the ball well from behind the arc.</li> <li style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16pt; color: #0e101a;">Control the tempo.</li> <li style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16pt; color: #0e101a;">Play two complete halves on the defensive end of the court.</li> <li style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16pt; color: #0e101a;">Feed off the crowd.</li> <li style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16pt; color: #0e101a;">Make the game uncomfortable for some of the young inexperienced Lady Spartans.</li> </ul>