The Briarwood Christian Lions concluded their regular season with an impressive undefeated record in area play, wrapping up a perfect 6-0 finish. They achieved this feat with a decisive victory over the Shelby County Wildcats, winning 45-12 on January 22 at Briarwood Christian School, followed by a 63-44 triumph against the Hueytown Golden Gophers the next night.
In their matchup against Shelby County, the Lions showcased their strength early, dominating the first quarter and limiting the Wildcats to just two points. Ann Tatum Baker contributed significantly with five points, while her teammates Emma Kerley, Clara Crawford, and Grace Garrett also made their mark, ending the quarter with a commanding 13-2 lead.
The Lions maintained their offensive pressure throughout the game, with Baker and Sasha Munikar hitting crucial shots in the second quarter. Kerley continued her strong performance, adding several field goals and free throws to help Briarwood extend their halftime lead to 28-7. In the third quarter, Kerley and Crawford led the charge, scoring all nine of the team”s points in that period while the defense only allowed two points, increasing the lead to 37-10.
In the final quarter, Briarwood capitalized on their substantial lead, allowing players like Claire Anderson and Julia Thompson to contribute to the score before securing the victory. Kerley finished the game as the top scorer with 15 points, followed closely by Crawford with 10 points. Baker added eight points, while Anderson scored four.
The following evening, the Lions faced Hueytown and began the game with an impressive performance at the free throw line, highlighted by Kerley going 7-for-7 in the first quarter. She scored nine of the team”s 16 points, supported by Baker, Anderson, and Crawford. Briarwood established a solid 16-8 lead and expanded it further in the second quarter, holding Hueytown to only two points from the field and ending the half with a 35-16 advantage.
Although Hueytown”s Natalla Matthews sparked a comeback attempt with a strong performance in the third quarter, Briarwood maintained their composure, with additional scoring from Kerley and Crawford. Heading into the final quarter, the Lions held a 49-34 lead.
Kerley capped off her night with four more points, while Baker, Garrett, and Crawford each contributed to the scoring in the fourth quarter. Briarwood ultimately secured a 19-point victory, with Kerley leading all scorers with 24 points. Garrett added nine points, Crawford had eight, and Baker finished with six points. With this victory, Briarwood improved to a 15-10 record as they prepared for the final two weeks of the regular season, starting with a game against Homewood on January 26 at 6 PM.
