By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

NORTH SHELBY — Briarwood Christian School sophomore Hannah Wainwright didn’t find out she could play against rival Chelsea until Jan. 6, just hours before tip-off.

Wainwright, who has battled a shoulder injury, took advantage of being cleared by her physician to return to the court by scoring the first nine points for her squad in a 49-15 win over the rival Hornets in an Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 5A, Area 7 contest.

“(Wainwright) was excited to be back in the flow of things,” said Briarwood Christian coach Jim Brown. “She shot the lights out early on.”

Wainwright led the Lions (11-4 overall, 3-0 in Class 5A, Area 7) with a game-high 18 points in the victory.

Abbie Cutcliffe and Hannah Brown added nine points each. Cara Medders, Elizabeth Scott and Samantha Swords chipped in three points each.

Sarah Outlaw and Sarah Ann Johnston finished with two points each.

Amanda Mock and Allie Luster led Chelsea (7-9 overall, 1-2 in Class 5A, Area 7) with four points each.

Perri Lambert added three points. Tammy Trout finished with two points.

Wainwright scored a basket with 3:39 left in the first quarter to give the Lions an early 6-0 lead. Cutcliffe drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Briarwood Christian a 14-2 lead entering the second quarter.

Cutcliffe scored a basket with 10 seconds remaining in the first half to send the Lions into the locker room at halftime with a 28-7 lead.

Outlaw’s layup with 5.9 seconds left in the third quarter pushed the Lions’ lead to 41-11 entering the fourth period.

Brown said the Lions were eager to get back into Class 5A, Area 7 play in their first home game since early December.

“The girls were hungry and glad to be back in here,” Brown said.