By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

The Shelby County High School girls’ basketball team fell to Sylacauga 40-37 in an Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 5A, Area 7 tournament semifinal contest Feb. 9.

Aulicia Nunn led the Wildcats (19-7) with 20 points.

Amber Johnson and Jasmyn Buie added four points each. Hallie Brown chipped in three points.

The Wildcats cut a double-digit deficit in the opening half down to three points,21-18, at halftime. Shelby County cut the deficit to one point, 22-21, late in the third quarter following a free throw by Tempest Cantrell with 1:25 left in the period.

However, Sylacauga pushed its lead back to seven points, 36-29, with 1:56 remaining in the game. The Wildcats responded with a 6-1 run and cut the deficit to 37-35 following a pair of free throws by Nunn with 26.9 seconds remaining, but Shelby County couldn’t get any closer down the stretch.