Briarwood pushes past Woodlawn in final tune-up before area play

Published 9:50 am Saturday, January 4, 2025

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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

NORTH SHELBY – The Briarwood Christian Lions faced one more big test before the start of area play on Tuesday, Jan. 7 as the Woodlawn Colonels gave them a run for their money.

In the end though, Briarwood used a strong fourth quarter to earn the 38-34 win on Friday, Jan. 3 at Briarwood Christian School.

In a defensive first quarter from both teams, field goals from Grace Garrett and Emma Kerley helped lift the Lions to an early lead as they got in front 7-4 at the end of the first quarter.

From there, the offenses started to click a little bit more. Woodlawn hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter but Briarwood was ready with a response, using Ann Tatum Baker’s first five points of the night to pair with baskets from Kerley and Clara Crawford to extend the lead.

The Lions went into the halftime break with a 17-12 lead, but it wouldn’t last through the third quarter.

Despite getting 3-pointers to fall from Baker and Sasha Munikar, Briarwood couldn’t keep up with the Colonels’ offensive rally in the third quarter. Five different scorers combined to outpace the Lions 16-10 and give Woodlawn a 33-32 lead going into the fourth quarter.

With the pressure now building to respond, the Lions took the fight to the Colonels and hit multiple crucial shots, including five total free throws, to regain the lead.

Briarwood held on to secure the four-point win and head into area play on a positive note.

Baker led the Lions with 11 points, Kerley and Crawford each scored eight points and Garrett finished with five points.

Briarwood will take its 11-9 record into area play and will play its first area game since rejoining Class 5A on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. on the road against the Shelby County Wildcats.