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By TYLER RALEY | Staff Writer

NORTH SHELBY – With a four-game winning streak under their belt, the Briarwood Christian Lions kept their momentum going in their third game of area play with another resounding win.

Briarwood defeated the Central of Clay County Volunteers 53-31, improving to 3-0 in Class 5A, Area 8 on Tuesday, Jan. 14.

The Lions could not shake off the Volunteers early, but still got off to a positive start on offense. Sasha Munikar made some noise early, hitting a pair of 3-pointers in addition to four points from Emma Kerley.

However, a pair of 3-point baskets from Central’s Ramyah Billingsley helped keep any momentum at bay. As a result, the first quarter ended 15-12 in favor of Briarwood.

The switch flipped on the Lions’ offensive luck in the second quarter, as they could not get the shots to fall before the break. Briarwood only scored seven points from a Munikar 3-pointer and another four points from Kerley.

Meanwhile, the Volunteers stayed on track with six more points from Billingsley. As a team they scored 10 in the period, which ultimately tied the score up at 22 as the two teams headed into halftime.

The break was all the Lions needed as they began the third quarter. Four different Briarwood players scored throughout, with Kerley leading the pack by dropping six more. Ann Tatum Baker, Sarah Travis and Claire Anderson added to the team’s efforts as well.

To compliment the scoring, the defense started to limit Central-Clay on the scoreboard, only allowing seven points in the quarter. The Lions had gained momentum by the end of the period, taking a 34-29 advantage to the fourth.

Briarwood then struck for its best eight minutes of the entire game. It scored 19 points in the quarter, largely thanks to Grace Garrett’s seven points, including a 3-pointer. Travis also added a 3-pointer of her own, while Clara Crawford put up five.

The defense put the nail in the coffin by only surrendering two points in the final quarter, which helped the Lions secure the 22-point victory.

Kerley led Briarwood in scoring with 14 points on the night, while Munikar joined her in double figures with 11. Baker also scored nine points, with Garrett adding seven. Travis and Crawford produced for the Lions as well with five points each.

With the win, Briarwood is 14-9 on the year and 3-0 in area competition, sitting at the top of the standings. The Lions will carry their undefeated area record into their next game on Thursday, Jan. 16 against the Shelby County Wildcats at 6 p.m.