WATFORD PROPELS SPARTANS OVER RIVAL REBELS

The second quarter possession was indicative of how the old Birmingham rivalry would go. Against Vestavia Hills, in the second round of the Steel City Invitational, Mountain Brook’s star forward Trendon Watford got the ball at the elbow. One power dribble later and one foul later, the 6-foot-8 sophomore flushed a dunk with his right hand. Vestavia coach Patrick Davis -- who replaced 35-season coach Geroge Hatchett on the Rebels' sideline -- fumed as the play was called an and-1; the Mountain Brook contingent beamed. Ultimately, the Spartans and Watford were too much as they grabbed the 63-35 victory. “It was interesting. It was strange (not seeing Hatchett on the opposite sideline),” Mountain Brook coach Bucky McMillan said. “I didn’t even think about that until we really started playing the game, but it’s a different deal. They’ve got some of the same resemblance in terms of their halfcourt defense, but it’s always good when our two schools are competing against each other. You take it for granted, but this is the only time we play Vestavia this year and I’m really glad we played them this year.” Watford’s night propelled Mountain Brook to a fast start at Samford's Pete Hanna Center. On the game’s first possession, Watford bulldozed through the lane and was fouled. The second possession, the same result. At the end of the first quarter, Mountain Brook led 14-9. Of those 14 points, Watford, who finished with 21 points and eight rebounds, had six points. “Trendon is really, really good,” Davis said. “He’s a tough cover. He can do it all. There’s not any big holes in his game. He’s very solid in his length, and I feel like he’s more physical than he was last year.” In the second quarter, the Spartans’ shooters got in on the action. Junior guard Sean Elmore, who finished with nine points, banged in two 3-pointers. Senior guard Ben McCool scored his only six in the first half. Vestavia guard Mitchell Langley, who scored 10 points and hit two critical 3-pointers in the Rebels’ double overtime win over Lanett earlier in the day, fought to keep Vestavia in it. Langley scored 11 first half points and hit three triples, but it wasn’t enough. By halftime, Mountain Brook led 32-21. In the second half, the play was much of the same and Vestavia was unable to catch up. “Our biggest focus tonight was to just come out here and play hard and we did that,” Watford said. “I had fun. This is always a great tournament to play in.” McMillan agreed, especially on the tournament fact, but pointed to the Spartans’ inability to win the tournament since its move from Mountain Brook High School to Samford back in 2013 as a focus. “Our goal is never to win basketball games, but I take offense to the fact that we can’t get to the championship in a tournament that we started,” McMillan said. “We’ll have a great semifinal tomorrow.”

WATFORD PROPELS SPARTANS OVER RIVAL REBELS

Photo Credit: Mark Almondd