Injury bug following Hartselle
By Staff
Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
Rodney Stansberry was more worried about his contact during Hartselle’s opening game of the 2008 Morgan County tournament Monday night against Danville.
Never mind the gash under his eyebrow that was bleeding profusely.
Stansberry was 4-for-5 from the field in just 11 minutes of playing time before he went to the dressing room.
He never returned to the game and finished with nine points in the Tigers’ 53-33 victory over Danville in the first round - a win that sets up a rematch with Brewer Thursday night in the semifinals.
Stansberry’s injury was just par for the course.
Hartselle players have gotten used to the pain and adversity this season. They’ve dealt with medial collateral ligament injuries. They’ve had anterior cruciate ligament tears and they’ve had torn abdominal muscles. And don’t forget the one broken foot.
Even leading scorer Alex Brown has been sidelined recently after an infection in his arm needed surgery to speed the healing.
Brown was playing for the first time in more than a week and was still a little rusty after missing several games. But the senior scored six points in 12 minutes Monday against the Hawks to give the Tigers a much-needed spark.
His return couldn’t have come at a better time for the Tigers, either. With Stansberry’s status for the Tigers’ semifinal matchup with Brewer up in the air, Brown will be counted on heavily to power Hartselle’s offense.
Brewer has certainly had the Tigers’ number this season. The Patriots beat Hartselle in the finals of the Big Blue Classic during the Christmas holidays and has also beaten the Tigers in both of their area matchups.
There isn’t much of a need for advance scouting by the two head coaches. The teams have already played three times and they’ve seem each play about 20 games.
Now Berry would just like to have a healthy lineup when the two teams hit the floor for another rematch.
Sports editor Todd Thompson can be reached at 773-6566 or by email at todd.thompson@hartselleenquirer.com
