HS hoops update: Teams conclude regular season

Area high school basketball teams finished up the regular season last week and now prepare for the postseason.

BRIARWOOD

The Briarwood Christian School basketball teams began the final week of the regular season on Monday, Jan. 29 by capping off Class 5A, Area 8 play against Shelby County. Morgan Hutchinson scored 18 points, but it wasn’t enough, as Shelby County knocked off the Lady Lions, 40-36.

The Briarwood boys dominated, however, cruising by Shelby County, 58-22. Izaiah Jones led a balanced scoring effort with 16 points.

Briarwood visited Calera on Tuesday night and came away with a split. The Lady Lions used sound offensive execution and stout defense to win, 42-24, as Hutchinson scored 20 points and Sophie Muir-Taylor followed with eight points. The boys team was not as fortunate, falling to a Calera team having a great season. In the 60-34 loss, Zac Nuyt led the Lions with 12 points.

On Friday night, the Briarwood boys hosted Mortimer Jordan and picked up a 53-46 win despite not having Michael Hiers. Carson Donnelly led the way with 19 points, with Izaiah Jones scoring 11 points and Zac Nuyt adding 10.

The Lions concluded the regular season on Saturday with a pair of wins over Montevallo. The girls won 43-40 before the boys won, 55-42. 

This week, the Lady Lions will host the area tournament and take on Sylacauga at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The boys team faces Moody on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Sylacauga. 

CHELSEA

The Chelsea High School basketball teams hosted their crosstown foe, Oak Mountain, on Tuesday night, Jan. 30. The Lady Hornets fell, 52-38, despite 18 points from Jordan Parker. Hope Richard added 12 points. The boys game was much tighter, but Oak Mountain pulled out a 44-40 win over Chelsea.

The Hornets wrapped up the regular season on Thursday, as they traveled to Tuscaloosa County. The Lady Hornets concluded with a 5-21 record after a 55-39 loss. The boys team improved to 13-14 with a 52-38 victory. Matthew Lanzi scored 15 points to lead the way. Tyler Coleman added eight points.

This week, both teams will play Pelham in the opening round of the Class 6A, Area 8 tournament on Wednesday.

OAK MOUNTAIN

The Oak Mountain High School basketball teams tipped off the last week of the regular season with Monday, Jan. 29 contests against Mortimer Jordan. The Lady Eagles beat the Blue Devils, 56-32, as Hannah Edwards scored 14 points, Kailey Rory scored 13 and Cassady Greenwood added 12.

The boys team had five players in double figures (Zach Nelson, Drew Dunn, Turner Youngblood, Chris Mayweather and Nathan Jones) as the Eagles pulled out a 54-51 win over Mortimer Jordan.

Oak Mountain pulled off a sweep of Chelsea on Tuesday night. The Lady Eagles pulled away with a 52-38 win, behind 15 points from Rory. Scout Reed joined her in double figures with 10 points.

The boys team pulled out a 44-40 win over Chelsea. Mayweather dropped in 12 points and Nelson scored 10 in the win. Jones also had eight points and eight boards.

Oak Mountain wrapped up the regular season against Helena on Friday night, Feb. 2. The Lady Eagles picked up a 54-39 win behind the strength of 18 points from Hannah Edwards. Kailey Rory scored 13 points and Kennedy Smith scored 11 to eclipse double figures as well.

The boys team fell to Helena, 53-40, as Helena’s Justin Stuckey put forth 25 points. Drew Dunn led the Eagles with 11 points.

The Lady Eagles finished the regular season with a 16-10 overall record, and will play Spain Park in the opening round of the Class 7A, Area 6 tournament at Spain Park. The game is set for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, with the championship game slated for Friday at 6 p.m.

The Eagles wrapped up with a 15-10 mark and will take on Spain Park in the opening round of the Class 7A, Area 6 tournament, set to be played at Mountain Brook. They will play Thursday at 6 p.m., with the title game at 7 p.m. Saturday.

SPAIN PARK

The Spain Park High School basketball teams visited Vestavia Hills on Tuesday night. The Lady Jags dominated, 69-23, while the boys team fell on a shot at the buzzer, 53-51.

Spain Park rounded out the regular season on Friday with a trip to crosstown rival Hoover. The boys jumped out to a 24-18 halftime lead over the Bucs, but couldn’t sustain it in a 62-40 loss. The Bucs outscored the Jags 23-2 in the third quarter to pull away. DayQuan Williams led the Jags with 16 points.

The Lady Jags game was a rematch from last year’s Class 7A state final. Much like last year, the Lady Bucs prevailed in overtime, 58-53. Also in a repeat of last year’s game, Spain Park’s Sarah Ashlee Barker hit a shot at the end of regulation to send the game to the extra period. Claire Holt led the Jags with 22 points. Ahrielle Parks scored 13 points and Barker added 12.

The boys team finished the regular season with a 5-19 record, while the Lady Jags finished 25-6. The girls will host the Class 7A, Area 6 tournament and will play Oak Mountain on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., with the championship game set for 6 p.m. on Friday.

The boys face Mountain Brook on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., with the title game at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10.