#TerryTalks: Difference Makers Down The Stretch

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">As we start the 2nd half of the season, here are some players who could be difference-makers going down the stretch…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2715484,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Sawyer-Olinger-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Sawyer-Olinger-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2715484" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Sawyer Olinger</strong> (5'8/CG/'25/Holly Pond)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: 2sawyer0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Sawyer is a stout guard who is really good at putting pressure on the rim off the bounce. He constantly looks to create off the bounce and makes good decisions with the rock. He has the passing skills to distribute the rock to his teammates while attacking, and his ability to make plays for himself and his teammates will be a key piece to Holly Pond's success going down the stretch.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2715487,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Taliq-Saint-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Taliq-Saint-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2715487" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2729401' first='Taliq' last='Saint']</strong> (6'0/PG/'27/Albertville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: taliq.saint12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Taliqsaint12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Technically, Taliq is a young lead guard, as he is just a sophomore, but he does a good job facilitating the offense. He values the ball, which is what coaches look for, especially as they get closer to the playoffs. He is a lead guard who will not hurt you as he plays within himself and within the concepts of what his coach desires.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2715489,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Mason-Hartman-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Mason-Hartman-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2715489" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Mason Hartman</strong> (6'5/Wing/'25/Albertville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Mason_hartman2018</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @MasonMhartman35</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Mason is a wing who brings senior leadership to the floor. He thrives in transition, as he is really good at making plays in the open court. He has positional size, is very active on the glass, and provides put-backs off the offensive boards. Mason is good at driving out of triple threat and does a good job attacking from different angles on the floor. His offensive versatility will be key for his squad down the stretch.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2715490,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Will-Brooks-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Will-Brooks-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2715490" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2639356' first='Will' last='Brooks']</strong> (5'10/CG/'26/Wilson)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: willbrooks_01</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Will's perimeter scoring will be the most important thing he will bring to his squad and their attempts to make a deep playoff run. As one of the top 3-point shooters on his squad, he will be needed to provide production and presence. Everyone knows what production means, but when it comes to Will's presence on the floor and his ability to keep a defensive man engaged and unable to help, he opens up the floor for his teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2715491,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Jay-Lamar-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Jay-Lamar-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2715491" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2814966' first='Jay' last='Lamar']</strong> (5'11/SG/'25/West Point)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: jaylamar233</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Jaylama02571987</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jay is an extremely tough cover out on the perimeter. His game off the bounce is his calling card. He can drive to either side and finish with either hand around the rim. His game off the bounce draws fouls, and Jay often finds himself at the line. Getting easy points from the line is a key stat for teams that go far in the playoffs. Getting points from the line and his ability to get a bucket at any point of a possession are two key pieces as the playoffs get closer.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2715492,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Judah-Gilbert-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Judah-Gilbert-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2715492" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Judah Gilbert</strong> (6'0/PG/'25/Stanhope Elmore)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: judahgilbert2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Judah is an aggressive lead guard who is good at creating and making plays off the bounce. He has shown his ability to make the right decisions when leading the offense, which is such a critical attribute for teams looking to make a deep playoff run. He plays under control and with poise and does a good job balancing scoring and facilitating.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2715493,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Mac-Couvillion-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Mac-Couvillion-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2715493" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2415267' first='Mac' last='Couvillion']&nbsp;</strong>(6'4/SG/'25/Mountain Brook)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: mac_couvillion</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">As Mountain Brook looks to get back to their dominant ways in the playoffs, a lot of their production comes from their ability to knock down the trey ball. Mac is one of the best on their squad who can provide production from behind the arc. He has had games of making 5 or more threes, so it goes without saying that Mac's ability to knock down the trey ball will be huge for the Spartans.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2715494,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Jayden-Deon-Cox-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Jayden-Deon-Cox-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2715494" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Jayden Deon Cox</strong>&nbsp;(6'0/PG/'25/Dothan)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: trim.jayy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Jaydencox05</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">It is really simple when it comes to Jayden and his impact going down the stretch. Can he consistently knock down the three-point shot, which he has shown he can do? He plays with what most consider the most dynamic backcourt tandem in the state and often finds himself open for open looks. This will continue, and Dothan will look for production from Jayden down the stretch as teams look to eliminate at least half of their backcourt tandem.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2715495,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Abraham-Mena-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Abraham-Mena-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2715495" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Abraham Mena</strong> (G/'25/Appalachian)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Abraham is his team's only senior, and his play on the court, on top of his experience, will be needed for his squad to make a run in the playoffs. He is a physical downhill attacking guard who creates a lot of space off the bounce, making it tough for defenders to contain him. His ability to create, distribute, and score are components of his game that will be key for his squad.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->