MOUNTAIN BROOK 79, PELHAM 33

Pelham’s Alex Reese didn’t play. Mountain Brook’s Trendon Watford did. Without Reese, the 6-foot-9 senior and Alabama signee, Pelham couldn’t matchup with the 6-foot-7 Watford and ran away with a 79-33 victory in the teams’ third matchup of the season. The Spartans (18-1) have won all three. Watford finished with 27 points, making 11-of-12 shots and 3-of-3 at the free throw line. He added three rebounds and three assists. "It probably would have been a better game if he had played," Watford said, referring to Reese. Pelham also played without starters Seth Torman and Derrick Bush, who were held out for team disciplinary reasons. "You always want to play a team with a full squad," Mountain Brook coach Bucky McMillan, Pelham (11-7), the No. 1-ranked team in Class 6A in the most recent ASWA rankings that were released before Christmas, has not lost six straight. Reese hasn't played in two straight games. The game should have been the final high school meeting between Reese and Watford, with the school unable to meet in the postseason because Pelham is in 6A and Mountain Brook is in 7A. But the 1-on-1 matchup Reese and Watford, a sophomore, didn’t happen. Reese sat out as a precaution, Pelham coach Joel Floyd said, after the big man has experienced knee pain in recent weeks. The Panthers played seven games in a 10-day span in holiday tournaments, Floyd pointed out, and that workload has caused Reese’s knee pain to persist. Reese suffered a preseason foot injury that caused him to miss a month of conditioning. Floyd said Reese is scheduled for a doctor’s visit Thursday as another precautionary measure. “We need him next week for area games,” Floyd said. "It's frustraing not to be able to play against one of the best guys in Birmingham," Reese said. "I thought it was best not to, to ge ready rested before the playoffs." Mountain Brook scored the game’s first six points, but led only 12-6 at the end of the first quarter. The Spartans then opened the second quarter with a 7-0 run, thanks to Watford’s step-back 3-pointer, and the lead grew to 20 points by halftime. The Spartans then scored the first eight points of the third quarter and cruised to victory. Mountain Brook shot 64 percent and made 23-of-27 from 2-point range, while dishing out 26 assists on 32 baskets and forcing 27 turnovers. Mountain Brook plays at Hoover on Thursday, while Pelham plays Thursday at Vestavia Hills in a game that was originally set for Friday but has been moved because of winter weather in the forecast.

MOUNTAIN BROOK 79, PELHAM 33

Photo Credit: Mark Almond