Jimmy Mitchell
Chelsea lineman Wesley Pouncey (56) hydrates during a game between Briarwood and Chelsea on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, at Lions Pride Stadium in Birmingham.
Over the course of the year, 280 Living will keep you up to date on the various high school sports teams in the area.
FOOTBALL
Briarwood
The Briarwood football team began its season on a high note, enduring a weather delay to defeat Chelsea on Saturday. The Lions started 1-0 a week after playing Vestavia Hills in its annual jamboree game. This week, the Lions begin region play with a trip to Pleasant Grove.
Chelsea
The Chelsea football team has gotten off to a tough start under new head coach Dustin Goodwin. The Hornets were defeated, 42-9, by Oak Mountain on Aug. 24. Last weekend, the Hornets endured a weather delay and site change and fell to Briarwood. This week, the Hornets travel to Carver-Birmingham on Thursday night.
Oak Mountain
Oak Mountain’s football team was off last weekend, but is off to a 1-0 start after dominating Chelsea on Aug. 24. This week, Oak Mountain begins Class 7A, Region 3 play with a trip to Hewitt-Trussville.
Spain Park
Spain Park was unable to back up an encouraging start to the season, and sits at 1-1 on the year. The Jags opened the season on Aug. 24 with a solid win over Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, but fell to Bessemer City last Friday amidst miserable conditions. This week, the Jags open region play against Vestavia Hills on Friday.
VOLLEYBALL
Briarwood
Briarwood’s volleyball team opened its season on Thursday, Aug. 23, in a three-set loss to Pelham (20-25, 16-25, 14-25). The Lions led for much of the first set, but were unable to hang on. Over the following weekend, Briarwood played in Oak Mountain’s Eagle Invitational. The Lions posted a 3-2 record for the tournament and won the Silver bracket, defeating Hewitt-Trussville, Shades Valley and Altamont while dropping matches to Oak Mountain and Helena.
On Thursday, the Lions traveled to Gardendale for a tri-match. Briarwood fell in three sets to Brookwood (25-21, 23-25, 10-15), but rebounded to sweep Gardendale (25-19, 25-20). On Friday, the Lions played a tri-match at home, losing to Faith Academy (14-25, 19-25) and defeating Shades Valley (25-19, 25-19).
The Lions hosted the Serve-Off Tournament on Saturday and finished in second. On the day, they notched wins over Minor (25-11, 25-10), West Blocton (25-7 25-9), Benjamin Russell (25-11, 25-12) and Central Florence (26-24, 25-15). Briarwood was defeated by Lawrence County, 13-25, 18-25, in the final.
Here are some notable stats from the Lions throughout the last week:
- Kaley Bruce: 13 kills, 76 set assists, 20 aces, 34 digs, 6 blocks
- Emma Crawford: 33 kills, 8 aces, 11 digs, 8 blocks
- Anna Grace Pattillo: 22 kills, 6 set assists, 12 aces, 34 digs
- Audrey O'Brien: 12 kills, 5 set assists, 5 aces, 47 digs
This week, the Lions host Bessemer City and Leeds in a tri-match on Tuesday and another tri-match with Benjamin Russell and Shelby County on Thursday.
Chelsea
Chelsea began the season on Thursday, Aug. 30, by dominating a tri-match. The Hornets defeated both Jeff Davis (25-12, 25-8) and Jemison (25-10, 25-10). On Saturday, Chelsea played in the Serve-Off Tournament at Briarwood. The Hornets defeated Muscle Shoals (24-26, 25-15, 15-12), Shades Valley (25-18, 25-19), Guntersville (25-23, 25-16) and Central Florence (25-19, 25-10), only losing to eventual champion Lawrence County (24-26, 14-25). This week, the Hornets play at Clay-Chalkville on Thursday and travel to Sevierville, Tennessee, for the Rocky Top Classic over the weekend.
Notable stats from last week:
- Victoria Schmer: 61 digs, 10 aces
- Jules Hamer: 37 kills, 39 digs, 12 blocks, 6 aces
- Sara Swee: 61 assists
- Bailey-Drew McIntyre: 39 assists, 14 aces
Oak Mountain
Oak Mountain opened its volleyball season Thursday, Aug. 23, with a five-set loss to Spain Park (25-18, 25-22, 23-25, 18-25, 12-15). The Eagles rebounded from the loss to put forth a strong showing over the weekend in their Eagle Invitational. In pool play, they defeated Briarwood (25-4, 25-17), beat Hewitt-Trussville (25-8, 25-13), lost to Helena (20-25, 25-22, 13-15), beat Hartselle (25-17, 25-17) and fell to Thompson (27-29, 12-25) in the Gold bracket final.
On Thursday, Oak Mountain hosted Bayside Academy and was swept in three sets (17-25, 21-25, 22-25). Over the weekend, the Eagles played in the Juanita Boddie Tournament, hosted by Hoover at the Finley Center. In pool play, they lost to Columbus (21-25, 15-25), defeated John Paul II (25-14, 25-19) and lost to Brentwood (19-25, 9-25). In the Silver bracket, the Eagles knocked off Houston Academy (25-20, 25-20) before falling to Helena (25-22, 22-25, 10-15). This week, Oak Mountain hosts Springville on Tuesday and Homewood on Thursday.
Notable stats from last week:
- Maddie Moss: 95 assists, 10 kills, 12 aces, 35 digs, 6 blocks
- Leah Nielsen: 49 kills, 5 aces, 10 digs, 3 blocks
- Josie Ohlson: 32 kills, 4 blocks
- Zoe Atkinson: 15 kills, 5 aces, 3 blocks
Spain Park
Spain Park opened its volleyball season on Thursday, Aug. 23, with a thrilling comeback victory over Oak Mountain. The Jags dropped the opening two sets of the match, but stormed back to win the final three sets to take the match (18-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-12).
The Jags played well at the Memphis Metro Tournament over the following weekend, winning five matches over two days. After advancing to the championship match against Hoover, they elected to delay the playing of the final until Tuesday, Aug. 28, as part of the tri-match with Helena. In that tri-match, Spain Park’s fortunes were not the same, as it was swept by both Helena and Hoover.
Spain Park split a tri-match on Thursday, falling to Spanish Fort (16-25, 17-25) and defeating Thompson (25-22, 25-23).
Over the weekend, Spain Park played in the Juanita Boddie Tournament, hosted by Hoover at the Finley Center. The Jags played well, winning four of the five matches they played. Spain Park won all three pool play matches, notching wins over Caledonia (25-13, 25-15), Northside (25-12, 25-23) and Siegel (25-19, 30-28). In the Gold bracket, the Jags avenged a loss against Hoover (25-22, 10-25, 15-3) but fell to Etowah (25-11, 25-22) in the quarterfinals.
This week, Spain Park opens area play on Thursday at John Carroll.
CROSS-COUNTRY
Briarwood
Briarwood opened the cross-country season at the Montevallo Early Bird Twilight Classic, with the boys placing ninth and the girls finishing eighth. Adrienne Goolsby led the girls team with a 17th-place finish, posting a 5K time of 22:20.85. Morgan Harris finished 47th overall. For the boys, Trent Malloy was 14th with a time of 17:37.07. Joseph Bell placed 48th.
Chelsea
Chelsea opened the cross-country season at the Montevallo Early Bird Twilight on Friday, Aug. 24. The boys team’s top runner was Miles Brush, who finished 17th with a 5K time of 17:43.59. Teanna Cason led the girls team with a 10th place finish (21:52.67).
Oak Mountain
Oak Mountain’s cross-country teams opened the season at the Montevallo Early Bird Twilight on Friday, Aug. 24. Both teams took home the top honors in competition. Evie Bell (first), Emma Grace Phillips (seventh) and Adrienne Cooley (ninth) were top ten finishers on the girls side. Jonah Barrett (second), Hansen McCown (seventh) and Walker Cole (eighth) did the same for the boys.
The Eagles also competed in the Yellow Jacket Invitational in Oxford on Saturday, winning the boys competition and placing second on the girls side. Bell led the team with a third-place finish (20:35.36), with Phillips placing fifth (21:13.46). McCown and Jonah Barrett were second and third, respectively, for the boys, with Walker Cole (sixth), Bryce Keefover (seventh) and Kenny Chavez (10th) posting top-10 finishes as well.
Spain Park
Spain Park opened its cross-country season last Saturday at the Yellow Jacket Invitational in Oxford. Jacob Warner stole the show on the boys side, winning the 5K race with a time of 16:39.92, over 25 seconds faster than the next competitor. The Jags boys finished fourth overall. The girls finished third and were led by Mackenzie Culpepper, who placed second overall in 20:05.13. Holland Lidikay (22:16.21) finished 10th overall.
— What else would you like to see mentioned? For any suggestions, feel free to email sports editor Kyle Parmley at kparmley@starnespublishing.com.
