By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

CHELSEA — Opponents are in trouble when they fall behind to the Briarwood Christian School boys’ basketball team.

Once the Lions are able to stretch out a defense with their long-range shooting accuracy, they keep the lead by taking advantage of overextended foes by hitting a cutter for a backdoor layup.

Briarwood ran its offense to perfection in a 57-32 win over Chelsea in a Class 5A, Area 7 contest Jan. 7.

Jason Laatsch led the Lions (18-4 overall, 2-1 in Class 5A, Area 7) with 18 points.

Devin Bowman added 11 points. James Palmer chipped in 10 points.

Ben Parks contributed seven points. Canon Smith finished with five points in the victory.

Jake Ganus led Chelsea (9-8 overall, 0-3 in Class 5A, Area 7) with 12 points.

D.D. Washington and D.J. Washington added eight points each.

After jumping out to a 38-17 lead at halftime, the Lions coasted to victory in the final two quarters.

“Once we got the lead, we knew we had to extend them and get behind them,” said Briarwood coach Chris Laatsch. “I was real proud of our guys’ execution all night long.”

Pelham tops Montevallo

The Pelham High School boys’ basketball team defeated Montevallo 46-26 on Jan. 7.

Alec Rash led the Panthers (7-8) with 11 points. Rash also grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds to finish with a double-double.

Tony Williams and Cameron Slane added 10 points each for the Panthers.

Demetrouse Conwell led Montevallo (4-9) with seven points.

Anthony Whitehead added six points and four rebounds.

Spain Park tops Mountain Brook in area opener

The Spain Park High School boys’ basketball team defeated Mountain Brook 65-49 in its Class 6A, Area 12 opener Jan. 7.

Robby Prater led the Jaguars (14-6 overall, 1-0 in Class 6A, Area 12) with 18 points.

Rembert Martin added 15 points. Mitchell Holt chipped in 11 points.

Oak Mountain falls to Sylacauga

The Oak Mountain High School boys’ basketball team fell to Sylacauga 53-50 on the road Jan. 7.

Garrett Cosgrove led the Eagles (9-8) with 13 points.

Cosgrove also grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds.

Shelby County drops area game against Talladega

The Shelby County High School boys’ basketball team fell to Talladega 73-55 in a Class 5A, Area 7 contest Jan. 7.

Tyler Madison led the Wildcats (6-9 overall, 1-3 in Class 5A, Area 7) with 22 points. Madison also grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds to finish with a double-double.

Ty Lollar added 21 points.

Calera falls to Bibb County

The Calera High School boys’ basketball team fell on the road at Bibb County 82-78 on Jan. 7.

Deondre Haynes led the Eagles (13-4) with 21 points.

Vincent defeats Talladega County Central

The Vincent High School boys’ basketball team defeated Talladega County Central 78-53 on Jan. 7.

Ben McKinney led the Yellow Jackets (14-6) with 23 points. McKinney also grabbed six rebounds and finished with five steals.

Bruce Hamilton added 20 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and five steals. Dontravius Moon contributed 13 points, four rebounds and four steals.

Anterio Rogers finished with nine points, five rebounds and four steals.

Kingwood Christian falls to Tuscaloosa Academy

The Kingwood Christian School boys’ basketball team fell to Tuscaloosa Academy 28-26 in an AISA Class 3A, Region 2 — Area 1 contest Jan. 7.

Daniel Fillingim led the Lions (9-8 overall, 0-1 in AISA Class 3A, Region 2 — Area 1) with 12 points.

Cornerstone Christian defeats Chambers Academy

The Cornerstone Christian School boys’ basketball team defeated Chambers Academy 65-55 in an AISA Class 1A, Region 2 — Area 1 contest Jan. 7.

Junior guard Kendall Moore scored a game-high 24 points, which gives him more than 1,000 career points at the school. Moore, who now has 1,015 career points, also grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.

“Kendall deserves it,” said Cornerstone coach Jonathan McKinney. “He’s very good on offense and defense. He’s automatic from inside and outside.”

Hagan Joiner added 11 points and seven rebounds for the Chargers, who improved to 2-6 overall and 2-0 in AISA Class 1A, Region 2 — Area 1. Chase Payne contributed 10 points and six rebounds.

Coosa Valley edges Lyman Ward

The Coosa Valley Academy boys’ basketball team edged Lyman Ward 35-34 in an AISA Class 1A, Region 2 — Area 1 victory Jan. 7.

Sam Bullard led the Rebels (4-9 overall, 2-0 in AISA Class 1A, Region 2 — Area 1) with 12 points.

John Bullen added eight points.

Evangel Christian defeats East Central

The Evangel Christian School boys’ basketball team defeated New Life Christian 77-52 on the road Jan. 7.

DaJon Townson led a balanced attack for the Lightning (9-0) with 20 points.

Marcus Johnson added 14 points. Mark Underwood chipped in 13 points.

Andrew Frazier contributed 12 points. Aaron Walker finished with 11 points.

Hope Christian edges Covenant Christian

The Hope Christian School boys’ basketball team edged Covenant Christian 38-37 on Jan. 7.

Blake Thomas led the Eagles with 13 points.

Terrance Moore added nine points and a team-high six rebounds. Caleb Douglas chipped in six points.

GIRLS

Oak Mountain defeats Sylacauga

The Oak Mountain High School girls’ basketball team defeated Sylacauga 43-26 in high school basketball action Jan. 7.

Hannah Griffin led the Eagles (13-4) with 11 points.

Griffin, who hit three 3-pointers, added four rebounds and two steals. Mackenzie Garmany contributed nine points, which came on three 3-pointers, and four rebounds.

Spain Park drops area opener against Mountain Brook

The Spain Park High School girls’ basketball team opened Class 6A, Area 12 play with a 53-46 loss to Mountain Brook on Jan. 7.

Colby Ryan and Ashley Gaston led the Jaguars (12-9 overall, 0-1 in Class 6A, Area 12) with eight points each. Gaston also recorded three steals.

Haven Eddy and Kathryn Boswell added seven points each. Jessica Freeman chipped in six points and nine rebounds. Whitney Gulledge finished with five points.

Tori Morgan, who scored two points, grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.

Shelby County falls to Talladega in area contest

The Shelby County High School girls’ basketball team fell to Talladega 41-37 in a Class 5A, Area 7 contest Jan. 7.

Alexis Lewis led the Wildcats (12-3 overall, 2-2 in Class 5A, Area 7) with 14 points.

Aulicia Nunn added 12 points.

Calera falls to Bibb County

The Calera High School girls’ basketball team fell to Bibb County 67-53 on Jan. 7.

A’Kia Harris led the Eagles (2-7) with 18 points.

Jocelyn Davis contributed 10 points.

Montevallo edges Pelham

The Montevallo High School girls’ basketball team edged Pelham 41-38 on Jan. 7.

Amber Cardwell led the Bulldogs (6-6) with a game-high 26 points. Cardwell also grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds.

Mallory Anderson added six points, seven rebounds, five steals and four assists.

Sydney Days led Pelham (4-8) with 11 points.

Vincent falls to Talladega County Central

The Vincent High School girls’ basketball team fell to Talladega County Central 46-36 on Jan. 7.

Brooklyn Jones led the Yellow Jackets (6-11) with 20 points.

Kingwood Christian falls to Tuscaloosa Academy

The Kingwood Christian School girls’ basketball team fell to Tuscaloosa Academy 52-29 in an AISA Class 3A, Region 2 — Area 1 contest Jan. 7.

Blair Holsombeck led the Lions (4-12 overall, 0-1 in AISA Class 3A, Region 2 — Area 1) with eight points.

Evangel Christian tops East Central

The Evangel Christian School girls’ basketball team defeated East Central 52-34 on Jan. 7.

Abby Letson led the Lightning (10-0) with 24 points. Letson also grabbed a team-high 15 rebounds.

Katherine Stockman contributed 11 points and 13 rebounds in the victory. Stockman also recorded six steals. Rainey Ketcham chipped in eight points and a team-high seven assists.

Hope Christian falls to Covenant Christian

The Hope Christian School girls’ basketball team fell to Covenant Christian School 46-26 on Jan. 7.

Leigh Wilson-Legg led the Eagles (6-4) with 11 points. Wilson-Legg also dished out two assists.

Hannah Rettig added six points. Christina Jones chipped in three points.