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Maggie West had 31 points for Shelby County in a season-opening win against the Calera Eagles on Tuesday, Nov. 13. (For the Reporter/Larry Dancy)

By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Sports Editor

COLUMBIANA – The Shelby County Wildcats girls basketball team made a magical run to the Elite 8 of the 2017-18 playoffs, putting them one win short of a spot in the Final Four.

When they began the 2018-19 season on Tuesday, Nov. 13, the Wildcats not only looked like a team ready to make it back to the Elite 8, but a team still carrying that Elite 8 loss over into the new season with a statement win against county foe Calera by a final score of 63-37.

A big reason the Wildcats (1-0) have high expectations for the new season is due to the number of returnees from last year’s, including the majority of their starters.

Two of those returning stars, Maggie West and Natalie Whitner, had impressive starts in the opening period and were part of a 22-8 first quarter in favor of Shelby County.

West came out and knocked down three field goals, while going 2-2 from the free throw line to quickly put up eight points. West, on the other hand, ended the frame with five points thanks to two field goals and going 1-3 from the line.

Those two, along with the help of other returners such as Madison Purcell, Aaliyah Cotton and Skye Lilly, helped the Wildcats make a statement on both ends of the floor through one period of action.

The second quarter was much more closely contested by the Eagles (0-1) thanks solely to the difference at the free throw line.

Shelby County still ended up outscoring Calera 13-11 in the quarter, but the Eagles saw positive signs at the line thanks to a 6-7 mark, while the Wildcats went 2-6 at the line.

At the half, Shelby County had earned a 35-19 lead and West already had 15 points in the game.

That was just the beginning for the Wildcats’ star, however, as she continued her unbelievable performance in the third quarter.

She went on to post 10 points in the quarter as part of Shelby County’s second 20-point quarter in the game as the Wildcats outscored Calera 20-12 in the period to extend their lead to 55-31.

West was the only player for Shelby County to score in the final period as she put together her third quarter of the game with at least eight points putting up eight and outscoring Calera 8-6 by herself to close out a dominant night for the Wildcats, who picked up the 63-37 win.

West ended the game with 31 points to lead all scorers, while Lilly added 11 points for the Wildcats.

Calera was led by 14 points from A.B. Davis, who is the Eagles’ strongest returner this season.

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