Spartans Ready To Defend Hoops Title: Coach Davis Weighs In

MOUNTAIN BROOK, AL — The defending 6A state basketball champion Mountain Brook Spartans tip off their 2021-22 season Tuesday against Mortimer Jordan, and head coach Tyler Davis says this year's team has its own identity, but will face challenges the same way as last year's.

Patch caught up with Davis to discuss this season's goals, and the look of the team as he begins his second season as head coach.

While it's hard to top a state championship, what are the team's goals for improvement on last season?

We don’t focus on the past. This year’s team is different from last year’s team. They will have to find their identity and at the end our goal is the same as every year and that is to max out on our potential.

How does the make-up of this team differ from last year's championship team?

We overall are a lot younger than last year’s group. We graduated seven seniors and we only have three with this year’s team. So gaining experience day by day and game by game will be huge in our development.

What do you see as some of the biggest challenges facing the team this season?

Working through the growing pains of being young. Also, Julius Clark who is our returning big man who started for us last year is coming back from an injury.

What are the team's biggest strengths?

Our strength is our chemistry and the passion these guys all have for the game of basketball! We have a lot of gym rats on this team!

How do you and your staff keep the team focused from the beginning of the season to the playoffs?

This is easier said than done, but we preach win the day and get 1% better. In the long run everything else will take care of itself.

The Spartans tip off Tuesday at Mortimer Jordan at 7:30 p.m. The first home game will be Nov. 18 against Hewitt-Trussville.