Boone siblings share court
When Madeline or Jordan Morales plays in a Boone High basketball game, there is a good chance the sibling who isn’t on the court is critiquing the other’s performance from the stands.
“We have a very tense sibling rivalry,” said Jordan Morales, a 6-foot-4 senior small forward whose teamleading 43 three-pointers made have helped shoot the Braves boys team to an 18-7 record and the top of the Class 9A, District 4 standings going into today’s postseason tournament semifinals.
“We go to each other’s games and we critique each other by the way we play,” he said.
Madeline, a 5-7 freshman starter for the girls team, doesn’t mind.
“It makes me feel connected with Jordan, because it is something we have in common,” she said.
Jordan has watched his sister, whom most call Maddy, rank among the girls team’s leaders in points (8.6 per game), rebounds (4.3 per game), steals (58 total) and assists (2.1 per game) in lifting the Braves to a 19-8 record and into the regional playoffs. She scored 17 points in last week’s district-final loss vs. Colonial.
Her team plays at Wekiva on Thursday night.
“I was a very tall kid at a young age, so basketball seemed like the right thing to do,” Jordan said. “Maddy liked watching me play and wanted to play, too. So, that is how this all got started.”
Boone basketball is the beneficiary.
“Maddy has great basketball instinct,” Braves girls coach Jerry Williams said. “The sky is the limit. I am anticipating her to become a very highly recruited athlete. Her freshman campaign is outstanding.”
Hustle has fast become a trademark for Maddy, who followed her big brother into the sport when she was five years old. . She’s one of only two ninthgraders on her team, but she plays like a veteran, and others notice.
“Maddy understands the roles of the team, but she has a true presence in the locker room, in practices and in games,” Williams said. “She is leading by example: hard work, determination and effort.”
Said Maddy of her leadership role: “It makes me feel like I am one of them. I’m not just the young one on the team.”
Jordan is a senior leader , and he has used his experience and the perimeter shot to help launch the Braves into the No. 7 spot in the Sentinel Super 16.
“After a tough loss my sophomore year in the regional finals and a rough season last year, this year’s success has been great because of all the work my team and I have put in during the offseason,” he said.
Jordan has made 43 of 108 three-point shot attempts and is averaging 9.6 points per game.
“Most fans and opponents would think Jordan’s best strength is his outside shooting,” Boone coach David Martinson said. “His decision-making and calmness in tight situations is truly what separates him. If he never scores another point for us, I’d still have him on the court, especially when the pressure is on and we need a play made.”
Jordan said one of the reasons he can hand down advice to Maddy is his understanding of the sport they share.
“My biggest strength is my basketball IQ and my 3-point shooting,” he said.
He also owns a 3.9 gradepoint average and has been contacted by basketball recruiters from Lynchburg College (Va.), Lasell College (Mass.) and Daytona State College.