The Reset: Local basketball teams approach Christmas tournaments

Over the course of the year, 280 Living will keep you up to date on the various local high school athletic teams. For previous weekly updates, click here.

BASKETBALL

Briarwood

On Dec. 14, the Briarwood basketball teams swept Vincent. The girls won 38-26, led by Emily Scott’s 13 points. Maddie Vaughn scored eight points, and Marylane Graham added seven. The boys won 66-49 behind 30 points from Hayden Lamey. Jack Dicen added 18 points as well.

On Monday, the Briarwood teams swept Dora. The girls team dominated en route to a 43-13 victory, led by Bennett Shaw and Jalen Hunter, who each scored 11 points. Vaughn added 10 points in the win. The boys edged Dora with a 64-63 victory, behind another 30-point game from Lamey. Dicen scored 13 as well in support.

The boys team has a 7-3 record so far and plays in the Oak Mountain Invite this week. The girls are 6-1 and play in Mortimer Jordan’s tournament next week.

Chelsea

The Chelsea basketball teams tipped off Monday, Dec. 10, to begin a week of play, as the Hornets traveled to Thompson. The Lady Hornets fell to Thompson 51-37. Jordan Parker led the team with 12 points. Chelsea’s boys fell 66-51, as Michael Gibbs led the Hornets with 12 points and KJ Hall added 9.

Chelsea visited Clay-Chalkville on Thursday, and the varsity squads earned a split. In the girls game, Clay-Chalkville ran past Chelsea to a 49-24 win. The Lady Cougars were led by Monika Johnson, who posted 15 points. Parker led Chelsea with 10 points. The Chelsea boys came away with a 56-54 victory over the Cougars. Matthew Lanzi led all scorers with 17 points, and Daniel Washington added 15 for Chelsea. Clay-Chalkville had three scorers in double figures, with Jaylin Mack (13), Chance Armstrong (11) and Dayon Bryant (10) all reaching that threshold.

On Monday, both Chelsea teams earned wins over Gardendale. The Lady Hornets picked up a 58-42 win, as nine players dented the scoreboard. Sydney Schwallie led the team with 13 points, with Pressley Rains adding 12 and Parker scoring 11. The boys picked up a 58-47 win, as Hall scored nine points and hit a clutch 3-pointer late in the game. Washington led the way with 15 points, and Lanzi scored 14.

The Chelsea boys have a 5-9 record and play in a tournament at UMS-Wright next week. The girls are 5-8 and play in Spain Park’s tournament this week.

Oak Mountain

The Oak Mountain basketball teams swept Pelham on Tuesday, Dec. 11. The girls took care of business with a 64-30 win behind 18 points from Abi Brown. Hannah Edwards chipped in 15 points, and Kailey Rory added 11. The boys cruised to a 53-36 win as well. Drew Dunn scored 17 points to lead the way, and freshman Evan Smith had nine assists.

Last Thursday night, Oak Mountain and Spain Park matched up, with the varsity teams earning a split. The Spain Park girls withstood a late charge from Oak Mountain and won 59-46. Rory led all scorers with 21 points and Edwards added 15, but the Spain Park trio of Bailey Bowers (13 points), Mackenzie Culpepper (11) and Sarah Ashlee Barker (11) was enough to lead the Lady Jags to the victory.

Oak Mountain’s boys edged out Spain Park, coming away with a 48-43 victory. Dunn posted 19 points to lead all scorers, and Smith had eight points and five assists. Austin Laatsch led the Jags with 11 points in the contest.

The boys played in the Hoops for Heroes event at Birmingham-Southern College last Saturday, coming away with a 57-48 win over James Clemens. Dunn converted on six 3-pointers to lead the way with 20 points. The Eagles recorded 15 assists and 20 made field goals and had 10 players score in the contest.

The boys team now has a 9-4 record and hosts the Oak Mountain Invite this week before playing in Homewood’s Metro Tournament next week. The girls are 8-6 and play in Mortimer Jordan’s tournament next week.

— What else would you like to see mentioned? For any suggestions, feel free to email sports editor Kyle Parmley at kparmley@starnespublishing.com.