“It really does feel like a dream come true,” said Jenna, one of four Crimson Tide managers who specialize in analytics, by cell phone Monday afternoon. “Coming to Alabama, it’s a football school, so I thought we would get to the tournament and I’d get to experience that, but never could I have thought I’d experience a Final Four. This is really surreal.”

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On Tuesday, Jenna boarded a plane bound for Phoenix, Arizona, the site of one of the nation’s most popular sporting events. The Crimson Tide, which will be making its first Final Four appearance in school history, will take on Connecticut, the No. 1 overall seed and East Region champion, on Saturday in one semifinal.

The winner advances to the championship game Monday night against either North Carolina State or Purdue.

Jenna Stockwell poses for a photo with the Crimson Tide’s Nick Pringle after the game that sent Alabama to the Final Four. Photo courtesy of Jenna Stockwell

Literally capturing it all will be Jenna, the daughter of Marty and Beth Stockwell, who has played a big role in head coach Nate Oats’ analytics-driven program the last three seasons.

“When we win a game, knowing that I contributed a big part, knowing I was the one who was putting in all the possession data so Coach could see what group of guys were working together, what people were shooting, who needs to take more shots and who needs to take less, I would say that’s most satisfying,” said Jenna, a 2021 Jamestown High School graduate.

She was particularly busy in the second half against Clemson.

After hitting just one of its first 13 3-point attempts, Alabama was 15 of 23 the rest of the game, including three within 71 seconds that pushed its lead to nine points with just over six minutes remaining.

“Luckily, I wasn’t the one working the actual shots,” Jenna said, “but I have to do all the possession data (on the computer) for those shots, so when we went that little period that was like 3-pointer after 3-pointer after 3-pointer within five seconds of the shot clock, I’m scrambling.”

Jenna Stockwell holds the West Regional championship trophy following Alabama’s victory over Clemson last Saturday in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Jenna Stockwell

She added: “Even though I’ve been doing it for a little bit, I will say one of the most challenging parts is that it’s still technology and it’s not always perfect, and we’ve had several times where a computer will just shut off midgame. Then we’ll have to kind of think on the fly.”

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Jenna will graduate this spring with a degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in sports operations.

“(Oats) bases pretty much all of his in-game decisions on what the numbers are looking like,” she said. “Even just getting to do the analytics makes me feel like more a part of the team than anything, which is nice.”

There are also some fringe benefits associated with the job.

“We ran out on the court (after the win over Clemson),” Jenna said. “It was just great to see all the players and all the coaches hugging everyone and (knowing) all of our hard work is finally paying off. I got to take a picture with the championship trophy, which was so surreal just to be able to hold that. Then we got to cut down the nets. It was one of the coolest experiences.”

Jenna will have another cool experience this week, too, when her dad, Marty, who is a math teacher and assistant varsity boys basketball coach at Jamestown High School, arrives for the Final Four.

“Growing up, I got to go up to Buffalo State and watch him do his thing (during the Section VI playoffs) and now he gets to come to Arizona and watch me do my thing out there,” she said. “I’m just so happy I get to experience it with him.”