HS hoops update: Several teams off to strong starts
The Briarwood boys, Oak Mountain girls and Spain Park girls are a few of the teams playing well early in the season.
BRIARWOOD
The Briarwood Christian School boys basketball team picked up a pair of impressive wins last week. On Thursday, the Lions traveled to Montevallo and came away with a 61-43 win. Michael Hiers led the way with 21 points on the strength of five 3-pointers.
On Friday, the Lions knocked off a solid Class 6A team in Chelsea, 53-45. Hiers scored 15 points and Carson Donnelly added 14, as the Lions improved their record to 6-2.
The Lady Lions didn’t have as much success, as they fell to Montevallo and Chelsea.
Morgan Hutchinson led the way with 11 points in Briarwood’s 57-38 loss to Montevallo on Thursday. The Lady Lions fell, 65-37, to Chelsea on Friday, as their record fell to 2-6.
CHELSEA
The Chelsea High School basketball teams played a pair of games last week.
The boys team saw its record slip to 6-5 after a couple losses. On Tuesday, the Hornets fell to Clay-Chalkville, 52-44, a team it had beaten 13 days prior. Tyler Coleman led the way with 10 points, and Matthew Lanzi scored eight points.
On Friday, the Hornets lost to Briarwood, 53-45, in a rivalry contest. Lanzi and Nyles Macon each scored 11 points in the contest.
This week, the boys face Columbia on Monday at 4 p.m. at Wallace State Community College.
The girls dropped their first game of the week, a 54-28 defeat to Clay-Chalkville, but knocked off Briarwood, 65-37, on Friday to capture their first victory of the season. Chelsea is now 1-10 after a tough start to the year.
In the win, Michaella Edwards led all scorers with 28 points, while Hope Richard chipped in 16.
This week, the girls host Oxford at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday before participating in Jasper’s Christmas tournament Thursday through Saturday.
OAK MOUNTAIN
Both Oak Mountain High School basketball teams picked up a pair of victories last week to continue solid starts to the season.
The boys won a 53-51 thriller over Pelham on Tuesday, as Drew Dunn connected on a jumper at the buzzer to seal the victory for the Eagles, who rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit. Dunn scored 20 points and sank six 3s in the contest. Chris Mayweather filled up the stat sheet as well, with 14 points, eight boards and four steals.
On Saturday, the Eagles beat Bob Jones, 43-39, as part of the Birmingham vs. Huntsville Challenge at Wallace State Community College. Dunn sank five more 3s as he led the Eagles with 17 points, followed by nine points from Mayweather, who scored eight of those on free throws in the final period.
The Eagles are now 7-3 on the year and are preparing to host the Zaxby’s Invitational Wednesday through Friday. Oak Mountain opens up with Leeds at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The Lady Eagles used a team effort to beat Pelham 49-29 on Tuesday. Kailey Rory led the scoring with 13 points, as Hannah Edwards (nine), Cassady Greenwood (seven) and Kennedy Smith (seven) all chipped in as well.
On Friday, Oak Mountain beat McAdory, 44-35, to improve to 9-3. The win was significant because it was the third time in 12 games that the two teams have seen each other, and McAdory is responsible for two of Oak Mountain’s three losses to date.
In that game, Smith led the way with 14 points, with Edwards joining her in double figures with 10 points. Rory added nine and Greenwood chipped in eight.
The Lady Eagles will take a break from game action this week.
SPAIN PARK
After a week off, the Spain Park High School basketball teams resumed action last Thursday. That day, the Lady Jags traveled to Gadsden City and came away with a tight 51-48 victory.
The boys played their only game of the week on Thursday, as the Jags fell to McAdory, 64-46. The Jags’ record now sits at 3-8.
On Friday, the Lady Jags hosted Carver-Montgomery and won, 69-54, to improve to 8-2 on the season.
This week, the girls play reigning Class 5A champion Wenonah on Wednesday night in the Steel City Showcase before hosting the Lady Jag Classic Thursday through Saturday. They open play in the tournament against Pleasant Grove on Thursday evening.
The boys play once this week, at Grissom on Friday.