By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

The Briarwood Christian School boys’ tennis team finished runner-up in the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 5A state tournament April 30 at Lagoon Park in Montgomery.

Briarwood Christian, which racked up 41 points in the tournament, finished eight points behind Class 5A champion Muscle Shoals.

Griffin Russell captured the Lions’ lone singles’ individual championship as he claimed the No. 2 singles’ title.

Russell defeated Patrick Barnes of Muscle Shoals 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the No. 2 singles’ championship match.

Russell topped Patrick Connell of Hartselle 6-1, 6-1 in his opening match, downed Andrew Horn of Cullman 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 in the quarterfinals and defeated Josh Berglund of Spanish Fort 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 in the semifinals.

The Lions’ Russell Hancock finished runner-up in the No. 4 singles’ bracket. Hancock earned a bye and won two matches before falling to Turner Sankey of St. Paul’s 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) in the No. 4 singles’ championship match.

Phillip Taylor of Briarwood Christian finished runner-up in the No. 5 singles’ bracket. Taylor earned a bye and won two matches before falling to Wesley Killingsworth of Walker 6-1, 6-4 in the No. 5 singles’ title match.

The Briarwood Christian School girls’ tennis team finished third in the AHSAA Class 5A state tournament April 30 at Lagoon Park in Montgomery.

The Lions’ doubles team of Holly Brazeal and Olivia Odom led Briarwood Christian after reaching the No. 3 doubles’ championship match.

Brazeal and Odom fell to Sydney McKinney and Lakken Long of Muscle Shoals 6-2, 6-4 in the No. 3 doubles’ title match.